Google I/O is less than a day away, and the annual software showcase would be the perfect opportunity for Google and its partners to show off their Android XR 2026 tech: The XR glasses we’ve been promised will arrive this year.
Google is no stranger to smart specs, but since the rapid rise and fall of Google Glass, we’ve seen glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta take the smart spec world by storm, and now the old king wants his crown back. But since Google is taking a software-centric approach (letting others handle the hardware), it makes sense that this new generation of smart glasses would land at a software trade show like I/O.
Look
Let’s get Xreal
I love the Xreal specs and have for a while – if you want a pair of XR lenses, you’ll be hard-pressed to beat the Xreal One Pros. So I’m especially excited to see the final version of their Project Aura Android XR glasses, and they’re also the pair we’re most likely to find at Google I/O (because unlike Samsung, Xreal doesn’t have any high-profile tech events of its own on the calendar).
The big difference between Xreal’s Aura glasses and other AI smart glasses we’ve been seeing is that they will be wired. This matches Xreal’s XR approach with previous models and offers some design advantages, but also some limitations.
Without an internal battery, the Project Aura glasses should feel lighter and less bulky, but they will need to be powered from a connected device (in the Aura’s case, it’s a dedicated computing disk that also doubles as a trackpad and battery) and will also be better suited for stationary activities (working and watching TV) rather than on-the-go use.
This approach may not be as mobile as Ray-Ban and Samsung’s AI or AR specs, but it should be much more capable where needed. The glasses practically project a giant screen in front of your face, like your own private cinema, and feature the same excellent optics as the Xreal One (so expect great OLED colors and contrast, a wide field of view, and fewer disruptive lens reflections compared to its rivals on the market). Whether you want a virtual screen to work in several windows at once or an immersive portable cinema for your face, the Xreal One pro are the glasses you need thanks to this optic.
What Aura improves over the current design is that it includes cameras by default for hand and object tracking. It’s a little more basic than the Samsung Galaxy XR headset system, as the Xreal lacks eye tracking, but it should make your Android
The problem is that I expect these specs to be expensive. The Xreal One Pros launched at $649, with an Xreal Eye camera add-on costing $99. The drive is also reminiscent of the Beam Pro and will likely add a couple hundred to the price, meaning we might be lucky if Xreal’s Aura costs less than $1,000.
Is Samsung stealing this show?
While I think Samsung will focus on its own launch event, perhaps tying the launch of its smart glasses to its annual foldable event, which typically takes place within a few months, there is a chance it will unveil its glasses at I/O. Not just one pair, we may see two.
The first would be a more standard AI-focused design with a camera, speakers and microphones, but no display, just like the Ray-Ban Meta’s basic (but impressive) specs.
Speaking of which, the design was recently leaked and they look strikingly similar to the Ray-Ban model. The only difference we know of so far is that they will rely on Gemini instead of Meta AI, which is generally considered a more capable assistant and has better interoperability between core Android apps for more personalized contextual responses.
From my experience with Ray-Ban smart glasses, AI assistance can be very helpful, especially as a tourist. With a better understanding of my schedule through my calendar, or the context of the photos I took with my phone, I hope the Gemini-powered specs can offer better day-to-day utility.
Best of all, Samsung’s specs should be pretty affordable too. These smart glasses are rumored to cost between $379 and $499, putting them roughly in line with Meta’s pricing, although we’ll have to wait and see what Samsung announces to be sure pricing is over thanks to several global economic challenges.
As for the second pair of Samsung specifications, they would be practically the same, but with a screen.
Now, leaks and rumors suggest that the display model won’t actually arrive until 2027, but I expect they’ll spend some time in the spotlight if non-display specs are shown, partly to generate hype and show that Android USA).
It’s frustrating that we have to wait a little longer for these display glasses, however, seeing the supply issues Meta has had with its version and the high price tag, Samsung’s delay could mean it can bring us a more reliable and affordable version of this exciting emerging technology.
strut your stuff
Finally, my bold Google I/O prediction: We’ll have an XR fashion show with models strutting down the runway in smart specs from Gucci, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker.
Just as Meta has partnered with EssilorLuxottica’s Oakley and Ray-Ban, Android XR companies are teaming up with fashion brands to bring some style to their specs.
Given the role eyewear can play in a person’s visual identity, focusing on fashion is key, and offering a variety of styles is key to capturing different users and use cases; Just look at Meta, their Ray-Bans are great for everyday wear and casual vacations, while their Oakleys are perfect for athletes.
With a wider variety of brands and hopefully styles under its belt, Android XR seems to have an edge over Meta again, and a fashion show moment would be the perfect way to highlight the variety it will offer.
Plus, Google has shown that it’s not afraid to mix things up at its events: Last year, the Made by Google Pixel 10 launch show was hosted by Jimmy Fallon and featured a large cast of celebrities and segments that felt more like a variety show than a tech keynote.
So I hope we get to see some fun showcases of smart glasses, although I admit my fashion show speech may be a bit of a stretch, and assumes Google, Gentle Monster, Gucci and Warby Parker are even ready to showcase their designs.
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