Google’s Android XR platform is still a work in progress. The company showcased its latest developments at the Google I/O 2025 conference, but it’s clear that there’s still a long way to go. Android XR aims to combine AR, VR, and smart glasses into a seamless experience, but for now, it’s more of a concept than a reality.
The platform is designed to work on both smart glasses and full-fledged VR/AR headsets. When it was first announced last year, it seemed like Google’s answer to Apple and Meta’s existing XR products. However, Google is still in the development phase and has only just released its second developer preview. This update includes features like 180° and 360° video playback, hand-tracking, and dynamic refresh rate adjustment to conserve battery life.
Google also announced that Samsung is working on a headset called Project Moohan, which is set to be released later this year. Additionally, Xreal is developing Project Aura, a smart glasses device that connects to other devices, with both projects set to use Android XR as their primary platform.
At the I/O conference, Google showcased a prototype smart glasses device running Android XR, which can translate languages in real-time. However, the company has no plans to sell this device itself and instead wants to partner with brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to create frames for future smart glasses.
Google is also trying to integrate its Gemini AI into Android XR. In a demo video, the company showed off what its smart glasses could potentially do, such as displaying mini maps for navigation, sending messages to friends, or taking photos while dancing with a partner. It all sounds impressive, but it’s hard not to wonder when we’ll actually get to use these features in real life.
Looking back at Google’s history with AR and VR, it’s clear that the company has a tendency to start exciting projects only to abandon them later. Google Glass, Google Cardboard, and Daydream are all examples of this. This history makes it hard not to question whether Android XR will succeed or become another forgotten project.
Right now, Apple has its Vision Pro, and Meta has its Quest, as well as a collaboration with EssilorLuxottica on Ray-Ban smart glasses. Google, on the other hand, is still in the “coming soon” phase, making it feel like the company is playing catch-up. Even with promising hardware from Samsung and Xreal on the horizon, if Google doesn’t fully commit to supporting the platform, it might not live up to its potential.
For now, Android XR feels more like a concept than a reality. While it has some exciting features, like Gemini AI and 360° video support, Google’s track record and the fact that its competitors are already ahead make it hard to get too excited. Maybe when we get our hands on actual devices that use Android XR, we can reassess.