Published on: May 19, 2025 / update from: May 19, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
I/o Unveiling: Google sets everything on XR: New Smart Glasses with Android XR will start shortly - we know - Image: Xpert.digital
Android XR Smart Glasses: A look at the digital future
Android XR: Google's first Smart Glasses start in a few days - all information about the I/O announcement
Google is facing a significant step in the development of portable technology. After years of research and development, the company is expected to officially present its new Android XR Smart Glasses on the upcoming Google I/O 2025. This announcement marks Google's ambitious return to the market for smart glasses, almost a decades and a half after the first Google Glass project. The new Smart Glasses are presented as a fusion of artificial intelligence and expanded reality and could become the “Next Big Thing” in the technology sector.
The teaser: First insights into Google's New Smart Glasses
Google has already skilfully built the tension on the new smart glasses. At the end of the recently organized “Android Show”, Android boss Sameer Samat provided a surprising moment when he took a smart sunglasses out of his pocket. The device was not an ordinary sunglasses, but a darkened variant of the Android XR Smart Glasses, which run with the new Android XR operating system. Samat announced that visitors to Google I/O 2025 will have the opportunity to try out the new technology itself.
The first publicly visible prototypes show glasses that can hardly be distinguished from conventional glasses on the outside. The design is based on classic glasses models, whereby the technical components are discreetly integrated. In the pictures published so far, a camera can be seen on the left temple of the glasses. In addition, there is probably an LED display that should signal to others if photos or videos are taken-similar to the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses.
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The development of Android XR Smart Glasses
The development of the Smart Glasses is part of a long -term strategy from Google. After the commercial failure of Google Glass, the company has fundamentally revised its approach and now focuses on developing everyday, unobtrusive glasses. Google has been working on smart glasses technologies for a good decades and a half and would finally like to create a successful market entry after this long time.
Android XR: The operating system for the next generation
In December 2024, Google officially presented Android XR - an operating system specially developed for Extended Reality (XR). Android XR is designed as an open, uniform platform for XR headsets and smart glasses and builds years of experience with Android, artificial intelligence and augmented reality on Google's years of experience.
The operating system was developed from the ground to the specific requirements of XR devices and differs in several important points from regular Android:
Key features of Android XR
-Focus on immersive experiences: In contrast to the conventional Android, which is designed for 2D screens and touch inputs, Android XR was developed for Immersive 3D environments and interactions.
-Support for special hardware: The system is optimized for XR-specific hardware such as head-mounted displays, deep cameras and movement controllers.
- Alternative input methods: Instead of touchscreens, Android XR relies on hand gestures, eye tracking and voice control.
-Deep integration of Gemini: Google's AI assistant Gemini is deeply embedded in the operating system and can provide context-related information and manipulate virtual objects based on voice commands.
Functions and skills of Google Smart Glasses
The Google Smart Glasses with Android XR are intended to offer a variety of innovative functions that make everyday tasks easier and create new interaction opportunities. At the TED conference “Humanity Reimagined” in Vancouver, Google already presented some of these functions.
Gemini Live and AI integration
A central component of the Smart Glasses will be Gemini live, Google's AI assistant, which can analyze and understand the environment through the built-in camera. The glasses are said to be constantly available and react to voice commands and capture the visual environment. Users of Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphones can already release their camera via Gemini Live and talk to the AI about what is seen - a similar functionality is integrated into the smart glasses.
Memory function
A particularly interesting function that was demonstrated at the TED conference is “memory”. This function uses the glasses of the glasses to continuously grasp the environment of the user and to “remember”, where everyday objects were stored. In a live demonstration, a Google manager asked: "Do you know where I finally put the card?", Whereupon Gemini replied: "The hotel map is on the left of the record" and pointed over the glasses on the corresponding objects on the shelf.
Translation and image recognition
The Smart Glasses should also enable real-time translations of foreign languages. At the TED conference, a live translation from Farsi into English was demonstrated, with the translation appearing as a subtitle on the display of the glasses. In addition, the glasses can scan texts from books and carry out image recognition.
Seamless smartphone integration
According to Shahram Izadi, head of Android XR on Google, the glasses are designed to interact seamlessly with the user's smartphone. This enables easy design and access to all telephone apps. The integration with the Android ecosystem should make it possible to receive notifications and respond to messages without getting the smartphone out of your pocket.
Project “Haean”: The collaboration with Samsung
Google's Smart Glasses Initiative is part of a broader strategy for establishing Android XR as a leading platform for extended reality. An important component of this strategy is working with Samsung. Under the code name “Haean”, Google and Samsung jointly develop a smart glasses product that is scheduled to come onto the market this year.
According to reports, the project is in the final phase of development, with features and specifications currently being finalized. There are different assessments of whether the first smart glasses will already have a display or whether they are more positioned as a direct competitive product for the successful Ray-Ban Meta Glasses that have no display and are available from $ 300.
What we can expect from Google I/O 2025
The Google I/O 2025 takes place on May 20 and 21 and is expected to offer detailed insights into Google's plans for Android XR and the Smart Glasses. During the event, live keynotes are transmitted, developer sessions are held and further information provided.
Demo options for visitors
Visitors to Google I/O will have the opportunity to try out the new Android XR Smart Glasses themselves. This will be the greatest public presentation of the smart glasses so far, which indicates that Google wants to increase perception and interest in the new device category.
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Developer support for Android XR
There will also be several developer lectures on Android XR on the Google I/O. This underlines Google's efforts to build a lively ecosystem of developers and device manufacturers for the new platform. By supporting tools such as Arcore, Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, Unity and OpenXR, Google developers wants to make it easier to get started with apps and play for Android XR.
Time of the market launch
Despite the upcoming comprehensive presentation at Google I/O, it is not yet certain when exactly the Smart Glasses will come onto the market. Reports indicate that the glasses may be available this year, especially in connection with the “Haean” project in cooperation with Samsung.
Conclusion: Google's restart in the smart glass segment
With the Android XR Smart Glasses, Google dares to start an ambitious fresh start in the area of portable technology. After the failure of Google Glass, the company has fundamentally covered its strategy and is now developing a product that should be both technologically progressive and suitable for everyday use.
The integration of Android XR and Gemini Live promises a new way of interaction with digital content and the real world. Functions such as real-time translation, image detection and the memory function could change the way we deal with technology in everyday life.
The Google I/O 2025 will show how far Google has progressed in the development of the smart glasses and what specific plans the company has for the market launch. With the support of Samsung and other partners, Google seems to be determined to play a leading role in the next generation of portable technology.
The coming days will be decisive to find out whether Google with its vision of Android XR Smart Glasses actually found the “Next Big Thing” after the 2007 smartphone boom.
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