Xreal launches Project Aura glasses running Google's Android XR system

On May 20, 2025, in an announcement made at the Google I/O conference, Xreal introduced its latest innovation, Project Aura, a set of extended reality glasses powered by Google's Android XR operating system. This launch signifies an important milestone for Google as it seeks to position itself as a secondary operating system in the realm of virtual and augmented reality technology, which is currently dominated by tech giants like Meta and Apple. Project Aura becomes the first pair of glasses to make use of this operating system, highlighting Google's ambition to expand its influence in the XR market. The extended reality glasses will utilize Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR chips, specifically designed for this type of hardware, and will operate in a tethered manner, meaning they require a connection to another device to function. This feature hints at the leniency of Xreal's previous products, which relied heavily on their in-house software and hardware, to now align more closely with Google's advancements in technology. The expectation is that as more devices adopt Android XR, it will attract developers to create applications for the operating system, thus enhancing its usability for consumers. This launch comes at a time when competition in the XR sector is intensifying, with companies like Meta pushing their own products, such as Meta Ray-Ban, alongside Snap's recently unveiled Spectacles, suggesting a shift in consumer preference as the demand for more versatile and less cumbersome devices grows. The emergence of these glasses offers a promising alternative to the increasingly unwieldy headsets that have dominated the market, positioning Xreal as a potential formidable player in this fast-evolving industry.