Hands-On With All of Google's New Upcoming Android XR Smart Glasses

Google is preparing Android XR-powered smart glasses for release this fall, following earlier platform announcements. Warby Parker and Gentle Monster will offer audio-only smart glasses later this year, with display-equipped versions arriving soon after. These glasses are co-developed by Samsung and Google, while the eyewear brands handle frame design. Xreal showcased Project Aura, a compact glasses form factor that delivers a full Android app interface using hand gestures. Early demo units from Samsung and Google emphasize lightweight construction through technology miniaturization. Audio performance is described as immersive and dynamic, with Gemini controlling playback and sound that remains difficult to hear from across a room at low volume.

"At Google I/O, the company gave us a first look at the designs of smart glasses coming from established eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. These smart glasses are codeveloped by Samsung and Google, while the eyeglass companies handle the design of the frames."

"Xreal also took the stage at I/O to showcase its upcoming Project Aura, which is essentially a miniaturized glasses version of bulky headsets like the Apple Vision Pro and Samsung's Galaxy XR -powering a full Android app interface with hand gestures for interaction."

"The most remarkable thing about them is how light they are. Google says much of the work it and Samsung have done was to miniaturize the technology to save weight. The arms of the glasses are still a little chunky, though."

"As soon as I asked Gemini to play some Radiohead, the audio surrounded my head and sounded dynamic, though I was in a quiet room. I asked someone else to try them so I could see if I could hear it at 50 percent volume while sitting across from them. I could barely hear the music."

Read at WIRED