Google’s vision for its Android XR ecosystem got a bit clearer this week at Google I/O 2025. Following the introduction of Samsung’s VR-style “Project Moohan” headset late last year, Xreal has now unveiled “Project Aura,” the second officially recognized Android XR device. This time, however, we’re looking at a different approach: lightweight, see-through “tethered” augmented reality glasses.

Project Aura: A glimpse at tethered AR

Instead of a fully enclosed VR experience, Project Aura offers AR through glasses that let you see the real world with digital information overlaid. Xreal and Google confirmed these glasses pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR chipset, specifically optimized for spatial computing, and will deeply integrate Google’s Gemini AI. They’re aiming to deliver both optical see-through (OST) and virtual see-through (VST) “cinematic experiences” across a widened 70-degree field of view – a notable spec for AR glasses. Being “tethered,” Project Aura will likely connect to an Android smartphone to power its experiences, even with its own onboard processor.

Both companies are framing Project Aura as a “call to action” for developers, encouraging them to envision new applications for this AR form factor, likely leveraging Android XR’s capabilities for tasks like on-the-fly translation, contextual search, and heads-up navigation. They also promise that apps already being built for Android XR headsets should be easily portable to Aura’s glasses-based system. We’re expecting more concrete details about Project Aura at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) in June.

Google’s renewed XR bet

We all know Google’s had a few swings and misses in the XR/VR space, but the company seems genuinely re-energized this time, believing that current technology (especially when combined with Gemini) is finally ready to unlock XR’s real potential. Xreal, with a solid track record in AR glasses like their Air 2 Ultra, is a strong partner for this. Project Aura (AR glasses) and Project Moohan (VR headset) now represent the two initial device types spearheading this renewed effort, which also sees Google partnering with fashion eyewear brands like Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to bring Android XR to even more styles of glasses.

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As exciting as Project Aura sounds, it’s important to temper expectations regarding immediate availability. Polished consumer versions of either these Xreal glasses or Samsung’s Moohan headset aren’t likely to hit shelves until 2026 at the earliest. Still, the combined vision for Android XR – encompassing both immersive VR and everyday AR – is genuinely compelling and feels like it could be the next significant shift in computing.

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