Google executives have recently shared their perspectives on the forthcoming launch of Android smart glasses and headsets, elucidating their features and potential advantages for developers. At the Augmented World Expo 2025, Google highlighted the importance of Android XR as a groundbreaking platform for VR, XR, AR, and smart glasses. The company is working alongside partners such as Samsung, Qualcomm, and Unity to engage developers with this burgeoning technology.
Justin Payne, leading Google’s XR product management team, underscored the significance of multimodal AI and large language models (LLMs) in progressing XR technology. The Gemini API, available via the Firebase AI Logic SDK, is being presented as an essential resource for developers to incorporate AI into their XR applications. Google anticipates extending Android XR software to smart glasses later this year, collaborating with companies like Warby Parker to introduce the initial range of smart glasses.
Hugo Swart, Google’s senior XR director, emphasized the collective effort necessary to cultivate the Android XR ecosystem, involving a range of participants from hardware producers to app developers. The platform intends to offer a cohesive development experience, permitting apps to operate across different devices without fragmentation. Android XR will incorporate fundamental tools such as head/eye/face/hand tracking and 3D reconstruction, tailored for Snapdragon processors.
In the realm of gaming, Android XR is compatible with controllers, Unity, and the OpenXR standard, allowing developers to transition existing VR games to the platform. Nonetheless, obstacles persist, including the scarce availability of Android XR headsets and the necessity for developers to construct their own reference hardware for experimentation. Despite these challenges, Google is dedicated to nurturing the ecosystem, aspiring to ensure developers of a lucrative future with Android XR.
The triumph of Android XR will hinge on the accessibility of cost-effective devices and the readiness of developers to adopt the platform. Google’s collaboration with Samsung and its open-platform strategy are pivotal tactics to promote developer engagement and guarantee the sustained success of Android XR in the competitive XR landscape.
