Google Dives Back into Extended Reality
Google is diving head-first back into the world of extended reality – and this time, the company is going big. While it might not be ready to show off any physical products just yet, Google has officially laid out its vision for a brand-new unified Android XR ecosystem.
Google isn’t just bringing a reimagined pair of AR glasses to the public (although it does seem to be working on smart glasses with Project Astra). Nor is the company simply investing in a new mixed reality headset. Instead, the company is laying the foundations for a huge XR portfolio.
With Android XR, Google wants to power a broad range of proprietary and third-party experiences, spanning all the way from the upcoming Samsung XR headset, to smart glasses, and extended reality applications – infused with artificial intelligence.
Here’s everything you need to know about Android XR, and why it has the power to transform the extended reality marketplace forever.
What is Android XR? The Basics
Android XR is a brand-new extended reality operating system developed by Google, and based on the Android OS. Announced in December 2024, Android XR marks the beginning of a unified ecosystem that will power countless devices, from VR headsets and mixed reality glasses, to augmented displays (like those on your standard smartphone).
Google is clearly no stranger to extended reality – though the failure of the Google glass specs is evidence that the company hasn’t always excelled in the hardware space. Even outside of the hardware market, Google has given companies access to AR app development kits and immersive software for some time now.
However, the release of Android XR shows the company now believes it’s finally the right time to go all-in on XR. It doesn’t just want to build new devices or apps itself; it wants to create a new ecosystem every leading developer can take advantage of. Already, the company is partnering not just with Samsung and Qualcomm but with countless heavyweights like Sony, Magic Leap, and Unity.
Android XR and Gemini: The AI/XR Connection
One of the reasons Google believes now is the perfect time for an XR revolution, is that it has an incredible selection of AI-powered tools to offer developers. Now that Google has fine-tuned its Gemini portfolio, it has the opportunity to give developers in the XR space access to multimodal and natural language processing capabilities for richer immersive experiences.
Within the Android XR operating system, developers and partners don’t just get tools for building applications and running headsets. They get full access to AI advancements that make interacting with computers feel more natural, and engaging.
Gemini will be deeply integrated into every aspect of the Android XR ecosystem, allowing partners to create and deliver more immersive “spatial computing” experiences.
Google says that the AI technology will make every application and device developed for Android XR more intuitive and powerful. Users can interact with applications using voice and gestures rather than physical controllers. Plus, every Android XR device will have an intelligent assistant that users can connect with to ask questions, complete tasks, and more.
The Operating System and Developer Kits
At the heart of the Android XR ecosystem is Google’s software. As mentioned above, the company isn’t just working with vendors to develop new hardware (more on that below). The aim of Android XR is to create a “vibrant ecosystem” of developers and device makers. To initiate this journey, Google has already launched a developer preview for the Android XR SDK.
The developer preview supports existing tools developers will already be familiar with, such as ARCore and the Android Studio. Google says it will allow developers to break free from the limitations of traditional screens with spatial panels, audio, and rich 3D elements.
The Android stack also includes OpenXR. This is a powerful cross-platform API focused on portability and versatility. Google announced this solution will come with a range of world-sensing capabilities, such as AI-powered hand mesh, sophisticated light estimation capabilities, and detailed depth textures, as well as new “trackability” for devices like laptops.
Google is also adding the “Play Store” to Android XR, where users can access their favorite apps. For instance, you can experiment with Google Chrome, Photos, Maps, and Meet in extended reality. There will also be dedicated versions of apps, like YouTube and Google TV, for immersive entertainment.
Beyond that, developers will be able to take advantage of other toolkits. For instance, Unity is one of the first companies supporting Android XR, and developers can create experiences for the OS using all of Unity’s technologies. Unity says it will offer full support for Android XR, with access to documentation and optimizations for new developers.
The First Android XR Headset: Samsung’s Project Moohan
From a hardware perspective, we’ll get our first look at what Android XR can do for wearables next year – according to Google, with the release of the Samsung mixed reality headset. After months of rumors and uncertainty about Samsung’s impending headset, designed in collaboration with Qualcomm and Google, we finally have an insight into “Project Moohan.”
Thanks to Google Gemini, this new headset will feature state-of-the-art displays, XR passthrough capabilities, and natural multimodal input. We still don’t have much insight into the exact features this headset will include. According to early testers, however, the headset feels and looks like a Meta Quest Pro, with the visual quality of the Apple Vision Pro.
According to Google, just like with the Vision Pro, users will be able to effortlessly switch between being “fully immersed” in their virtual environment or combining content with the real world. Plus, when you tap on the side of the headband, you’ll be able to instantly access various Google Play apps and interact with your Gemini AI assistant.
Google says users will be able to have conversations about what they’re seeing with the AI bot or use it to control elements of their device.
Looking Ahead to Android XR Smart Glasses
Android XR isn’t just a solution designed for developers in mixed reality headsets either. Google is also diving deeper into the augmented reality smart glasses landscape. Already, we’ve seen evidence that the company is working on its own proprietary glasses with Project Astra.
With Android XR, Google wants to give its partner companies plenty of solutions to build their own intelligent glasses. The company says the operating system will be specially designed to support various types of smart glasses in the future. With Android XR and Gemini, companies can design their own versions of AI-assistant glasses like the Meta Ray-Ban specs.
A prototype version of the Astra glasses already provides insight into how these specs will make it easy for users to use Gemini to ask for directions or translate content on the move. Google says glasses with Android XR will put all the benefits of Gemini just a tap away. So you can navigate the world more confidently without relying exclusively on your smartphone.
Of course, developers will also be able to use Android XR to power glasses with augmented reality capabilities too. However, we don’t have much information about what these glasses will look like, or which partner plans to release Android XR specs first. Google has said that they’re launching real-world prototype tests already, though. This could mean we start to see new glasses built with Google’s operating system sometime in 2025.
What Will Android XR Mean for the Future of the Industry?
So, why is Android XR so important to the extended reality landscape? Simply put, Google has taken a powerful approach to re-entering the XR market. It isn’t just creating its own proprietary software and hardware. It’s creating a new landscape for XR competition.
The company is developing a foundation for a new “generation of computing,” paving the way for more versatility in the XR market. With its open, unified platform XR headsets, glasses, and applications, Google is ready to challenge the dominance of companies like Meta.
For users, this will likely mean there’s a lot more “choice” available going forward. We’ll have plenty of different headsets and smart glasses to explore from a huge selection of vendors, and we’ll still get the familiar “comfortable” app experiences we’re already used to.
For developers, Google is offering a convenient and powerful way to enter the XR market. Anyone can build experiences for a wide range of devices using familiar Android frameworks and tools. Overall, Android XR will pave the way for a new ecosystem of devices—not just one or two new products. This strategy has already paid dividends for Google so far.
Just consider how many phones, televisions, tablets, and even cars use Android operating system versions. If Google can replicate that success in the XR market with its new Android operating system, the opportunities are endless.
Looking Ahead: A New Era for XR
Right now, Android XR is only in its early stages, and even the development kits are only in the initial “preview” stage. However, Google is clearly working hard with other partners to accelerate the release of devices built on this platform. Soon, we’ll have an opportunity to explore the platform’s mixed reality benefits with Samsung’s Project Moohan headset.
We might even see Samsung releasing a pair of augmented reality glasses next year too, built on the same operating system. Plus, with Android XR, Google might double-down on its own AR strategy, releasing a version of the Project Astra glasses to the public sometime in the future.
Other partners and products will undoubtedly be coming into the fold too. Google has already shared that its working with companies like Sony, Magic Leap, and Lynx. The launch of Android XR marks the start of a brand-new collection of devices and experiences that could turbo-charge adoption among consumers and enterprise users alike.
With Android XR, 2025 is poised to become a year of landmark creativity, competition, and innovation in the XR space. We can’t wait to see what comes next.
Quelle:
