The Android Show | XR Edition
The company, in collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm, has sketched out a clear path towards a cohesive and scalable XR ecosystem.
This week at “The Android Show | XR Edition” Google presented one of the most ambitious proposals for the future of spatial computing. The company, in collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm, has sketched out a clear path towards a cohesive, scalable XR ecosystem focused on the integration of hardware, software and artificial intelligence.
At INVELON, where we work every day on immersive solutions for businesses and public authorities, this move confirms that Extended Reality is entering a phase of maturity in which mass adoption is finally viable.
Android XR: the new Extended Reality platform
The main news from the event was the new features of Android XR and its cross-platform orientation, as it establishes itself as Google's unified operating system for Extended Reality devices. The aim is for headsets, smart glasses and intermediate formats to work under a single framework, simplifying development, compatibility and the user experience.
According to Google's vision, the XR ecosystem will be divided into several categories:
- Headset-type devices for immersive experiences: entertainment and productivity with advanced image quality and high computing power.
- Connected AR glasses that make it possible to take part of the immersive experience into all kinds of environments, in a lighter form, in collaboration with companies such as XREAL.
- Wireless AR glasses, incorporating displays and with the best possible ergonomics, as Meta has already done with its latest launch together with Ray-Ban.
- AI glasses designed for everyday use, lightweight and designed by leading brands in the world of optics.
For businesses and developers, this represents a decisive step towards a standard capable of consolidating spatial computing across multiple sectors.
Galaxy XR: the first native Android XR device
Samsung announced updates for its first headset, Galaxy XR, a headset designed from the ground up to integrate with Android XR and with Gemini as its main assistant. The device has a broad ecosystem of Google Play apps and offers several features geared towards productivity and entertainment.
Among the announcements, the following stand out:
PC Connect
Lets you move computer windows directly into the XR environment, opening up opportunities in tasks that require a large virtual workspace.
Likeness
A system that generates a hyper-realistic representation of the user for video conferencing in XR. It brings naturalness and expressiveness, going a step beyond stylised avatars.
Travel Mode
Creates a stable XR space while travelling, especially useful on flights, allowing comfortable use even with vibrations or little freedom of movement.
Auto-Spatialization (coming soon)
Real-time transformation of any 2D content into 3D experiences. This feature could greatly accelerate the adoption of spatial content by not requiring specific development from each app.
Project Aura: lightweight XR for working anywhere
One of the most interesting demonstrations at the event was Project Aura, XREAL's lightweight XR device that combines optical see-through, gesture control and a portable format. It connects by cable to a small external module that contains the battery and the computing, keeping the glasses light without sacrificing performance. With Project Aura you can:
- View multiple floating windows (browser, editing tools, messaging) with a 70° FOV.
- Integrate Gemini as a contextual assistant within any visible app.
- Extend a laptop screen at the same time in the form of spatial windows.
This proposal opens the door to everyday use of XR outside the home or office environment, something key to mass adoption.
AI Glasses: the leap towards truly smart glasses
Google also showed the progress of its AI Glasses, developed together with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. They will come in two variants:
- AI Glasses with a camera, microphones and speakers, designed as a hands-free assistant.
- Display AI Glasses, with an integrated microdisplay that can show private information in real time.
Some of the features demonstrated at the event included:
- Simultaneous translation in conversations.
- Object identification and contextual visual search.
- Image creation and quick editing using the Nano Banana model.
- Taking photos and carrying out actions through natural commands.
These capabilities consolidate practical daily use and move away from the perception of a “gadget”, bringing smart glasses closer to the mainstream market.
A more mature SDK for XR developers
Google also announced the Developer Preview 3 of the Android XR SDK, which includes significant improvements for creating XR experiences and for compatibility with AI glasses and hybrid devices. Among the technical updates, the following stand out:
Expansion of ARCore
Includes geospatial capabilities, dynamic orientation and motion tracking to create experiences that react to the user's movement and the real environment.
Jetpack Glimmer
A new UI library specifically for glasses with transparent displays, designed to offer a clear, unobstructive view.
Jetpack Projected
Lets you project a mobile app directly onto a pair of AI Glasses while keeping control over the camera, audio and native functions.
XR emulator for Android Studio
Includes configurable fields of view and XR scenarios to test apps without needing physical hardware.
In addition, Uber showed a practical use case to improve the passenger pick-up experience: contextual directions in airports, quick vehicle identification and direct communication from the glasses.
What does this move mean for the XR industry?
At INVELON we highlight three immediate impacts:
- Standardisation of the XR ecosystem. Android XR could become the reference for developers and businesses, as Android was for mobile.
- Deep integration of AI into the workflow. Gemini acts as a universal interface that connects computer vision, conversation and action.
- New business opportunities. From spatial productivity to assisted navigation, remote support, augmented tourism or immersive training.
The central message of the event is clear: XR is no longer a collection of experimental technologies, but a new layer of interaction with the digital world.
Google, Samsung and Qualcomm are thus aligned around a shared vision: that XR can be used in everyday life, without friction, with mature development tools and with AI as its operating core.