When it comes to launch later this year, the Android XR will first appear in Samsung’s Mixed Reality Headset, Project Moohan. Currently, Google has tapped XReal, the creator of AR glasses, second in its newly announced project Aura.
At an I/O developer event, Google announced that China-based XREAL will become the second device to run the upcoming XR operating system, Android XR, in the Developer Preview.
CodeNeame Project Aura, the company describes optical see-through (OST) devices as “portable and tethered devices that allow users to access their favorite Android apps, including those built for XR.”
Although the information is still weak, Xreal will be created by Project Aura in collaboration with Google and Chip-Maker Qualcomm, and will be available to developers “quickly” with Project Moohan launch.
Although XReal has not released a specification, the company has a track record of pairing Micro-Oleds and Birdbath Optics. This differs from the more expensive waveguide optics found in devices such as Microsoft Hololens, Magic Leap One, or Meta’s Orion AR Glasses prototype.
Birdbath Optics uses a curved mirror system for brighter, higher field of view (FOV) and lower cost AR displays, which usually result in bulky designs. Waveguides are often thinner and more expensive to manufacture, but offer a more wearable form factor with better transparency. Prototypes like Metaorion suppress this trend, but waveguides usually have lower FOVs.
As seen on the Google I/O stage, Android XR glasses can be seen on stage from eyewear companies Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, Xreal Project Aura features built-in Gemini AI that can do real-time translation, AI assistant chat, web search, object recognition, display of context information, and more.
Choosing XReal as your next Android XR hardware partner makes a lot of sense here. Founded in 2017, XREAL (formerly NREAL) has developed many generations of AR glasses over the years, including Nebula, a proprietary custom Android launcher that handles native AR experiences on Android devices.
Like previous XREAL devices, Project Aura is intended to be tethered rather than standalone. Whether it’s a standard smartphone, external devices that the device runs Android XR, such as a dedicated “pack” like the XREAL beam.
That said, Xreal says he is talking more about Project Aura at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) next month, next month, which will take place in Long Beach, California from June 10th to 12th. I’m adored this year, so check back soon again about everything that comes with the XR from the event.
