Google is introducing its personal spin on headsets and smart glasses with the announcement of Android XR: a brand new working system constructed for prolonged actuality (XR) units.
As announced, Google will totally use Gemini AI and collaborate with Samsung and Qualcomm to convey “useful experiences to headsets and glasses” by means of Android XR. The primary gadget to point out off what it might probably do is Samsung’s Project Moohan — which is about to be out there in 2025.
With Android now getting into the XR house, the Apple Vision Pro and visionOS will see some heavy competitors.
However what’s Android XR, and what can it do for a brand new technology of AI-powered headsets and glasses? Here is all the things we all know to this point for all of your burning questions on Android XR.
What’s Android XR?
Android XR is Google’s new working system for prolonged actuality units, together with XR headsets and glasses. It extends the tech large’s Android working system to smartphones, tablets and TVs.
The working system goals to permit builders and gadget makers to create new XR experiences for headsets and glasses utilizing acquainted Android apps and instruments. This contains Google’s suite of apps, equivalent to Google Pictures, Google Maps, Google TV, Chrome, YouTube, and extra.
This implies you will get to make use of these apps in a digital panorama, just like what the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S mixed-reality (MR) experiences have to supply. And, in fact, the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
As Google states, Android XR permits builders to construct apps and video games for its units. The preliminary instruments embody ARCore, Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, Unity and OpenXR.
Together with partnering with Samsung to develop the working system, Google will get assist from chip maker Qualcomm to energy these units. Qualcomm companions like Sony, Lynx, and XREAL could make their very own units utilizing Android XR.
“Developments in AI are making interacting with computer systems extra pure and conversational,” the VP of XR at Google introduced within the blog post. “This inflection level permits new prolonged actuality (XR) units, like headsets and glasses, to know your intent and the world round you, serving to you get issues achieved in completely new methods.”
It is going to be some time earlier than we see Android XR in motion on headsets, however we’re already excited about Android XR in smart glasses.
What can Android XR do?
In case you’re conversant in the capabilities of the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional or Meta Quest 3 headsets, think about Android XR including a “Google” spin on issues.
Whereas builders will create totally different XR experiences based mostly on Android XR, we have already got a sneak peek at what it might probably do. For instance, headsets can change from a totally immersive digital setting to a real-world setting.
As with Apple and Meta headsets, it lets you “fill the house round you” with totally different apps and content material — layering them on high of what you possibly can see in the true world and a digital setting.
Google Gemini will even be a spotlight. If requested, the AI assistant will let you know what you see and permit you to management the gadget. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have an identical method with AI capabilities, and Google is following swimsuit.
Then there’s the apps. As talked about, Google will convey lots of its apps straight to an Android XR gadget, however in a “reimagined” approach. So, you possibly can watch YouTube movies and exhibits on Google TV on a digital large display, see your Google Pictures photos and albums in 3D, and create a number of digital screens when browsing the net on Google Chrome. Plus, Circle to Search is added, permitting you to lookup something you see with a “easy gesture” (which I count on might be a round movement with a finger).
As one other perk, cellular and pill apps on the Google Play Retailer might be out there for Android XR headsets, with Google saying that extra XR-focused apps, video games and content material might be out there subsequent 12 months.
As for glasses, Gemini will take heart stage, with Google wanting its AI to be “one faucet away.” As anticipated, Android XR glasses will have the ability to translate what you see and listen to in real-time (as seen within the video above), offer directions to destinations you’ll want to go and present message summaries you obtained in your telephone.
Google expects Android XR to “seamlessly” work with different Android units, and because it runs on the identical working system, I can think about it doing so. As with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Google desires to make Android XR “trendy, comfy glasses you will like to put on each day.”
Android XR: What to anticipate
There’s nonetheless a lot to study Android XR, however we already know what Google’s new working system will convey to XR headsets and glasses. It goals to be a unified platform for builders and producers to create new XR experiences and units. We are going to absolutely see much more headsets and glasses focusing on the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional and Ray-Ban Meta sensible glasses.
Google will quickly be testing Android XR on prototype glasses to a small group of customers, however there isn’t any phrase but of when sensible glasses with Android XR assist will arrive. Within the meantime, we’ve Samsung’s XR headset to stay up for, which would be the first gadget to convey Android XR.
Whereas we wait to see what else Android XR brings to the desk, try how Xreal’s smart glasses are a leap forward for AR.
