- Android XR was presented by Google at E / S 2025
- It relies strongly on AI to provide many of its features, such as live translation
- The helmet seems interesting, but the glasses are the real star
Google finally removed the Android XR cover on Google I / O 2025 to show us what the operating system will be able to launch on Android XR glasses later this year.
We did not see everything I hoped, but we learned what will be Google’s miracle solution in XR: Google Gemini. Its AI -centered approach was demo on the two types of equipment – AR glasses and mixed reality headsets.
From the latter, Google gave a public version of the demonstrations of the Moohan Project helmet, it runs in private for the media and technological experts. It highlights certain standard advantages of helmets, such as the advantages of an immersive screen for multitasking – we were shown a user accessing YouTube, Google Maps and a travel blog when they are looking for a location they plan to visit.
Then, in an impressive moment, this user asks Gemini if he can “take me to Florence”. Gemini obliges by opening the immersive 3D card of Google and gives them a view of the birds of the city and certain monuments (including the emblematic cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, who, who, who, who, who, who Assassin’s Creed 2 The players will be very familiar with it).
Then there are the glasses. In some different scenarios, Google has highlighted how Android XR specifications can make your life easier with hands -free controls and a head -up display.
You can write and send messages to your contacts, access the live translation with subtitles on the screen, search for Google Maps recommendations, then get routes to a location, and take photos using the glasses camera and see an overview of the shooting immediately.
This recalls what Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses are capable of, and that’s exactly what we expect from Meta’s intelligent glasses with a display will be able to (read: when) they are presented later this year.
I expected more Google in the helmets, frankly.
Android XR certainly seems to be treated, but I have not yet seen any reason why it is better than – or, to a certain extent, on equality with – with the competition (*cough* Meta quest 3 *cough*). However, I have at least a little hope that at the time when the Moohan project is ready to be launched for consumers (with it, being teased only for the release “later this year”) some of the disappointment of Android XR will be addressed.
For the moment, the helmet certainly seems to play in the second violin of the real Android XR star: the glasses.
Not only most of the Android XR features presented are presented (which seem very useful) for a device that you would wear all the time, but I am surprised by the choice that Google already offers us in terms of equipment.
Samsung works on Android XR Tech, but Xreal with its Aura project, and elegant Gentle Glass Marks Monster and Warby Parker. And Google’s promise “starting” from these brands suggests that more partners are on the way.
This abundance of choices is fantastic for two key reasons.
First of all, with more prices of choice will have to remain competitive. The smart glasses equipped with Meta would have cost more than $ 1,000 with initiates expecting at a rate of the range of $ 1,300 to $ 1,400 (which would be around £ 1,000 to £ 1 or $ 2,050 to $ 2,200).
With more glasses options to choose, we can see prices at more affordable levels faster than if it was only one or two players in the game.
Second, glasses, like other fashion accessories, must prioritize style to some extent. The usefulness is important, but if we expect that we wear smart glasses all day every day, like any other accessory, they need to adapt to our identity.
By associating with a range of different brands at the door – the aesthetics of Gentle Monster and Warby Parker is almost polar opposites towards each other – Android XR Tech should appeal to a wider audience than the approach of meta -ban only, because it will boast of glasses designed to suit a larger range of fashion niches.
It is still early for Android XR, and there are crucial details that we are still missing, but Google has certainly come out with its latest operating system
I will pay particular attention to the Android XR demos of Google and I am looking for more concrete information on future equipment. For the moment, however, Google certainly on the hook.
