Google has officially announced Android XR, a groundbreaking extended reality (XR) platform designed to integrate AI capabilities across devices like headsets and smart glasses. The platform, unveiled on Thursday, aims to streamline app development with support for tools like ARCore, Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, Unity, and OpenXR.
Key Features of Android XR
- Seamless App Compatibility: Leveraging the Android ecosystem, most mobile and tablet apps on the Play Store will work natively on Android XR devices.
- Developer-Friendly Tools: Includes an Android XR Emulator for testing apps in virtual environments.
- Gemini AI Integration: Enables voice-controlled navigation, contextual assistance, and the Circle to Search feature.
- Flexible Immersion: Devices can switch between fully immersive VR and augmented reality (AR) overlays.
Samsung’s Project Moohan: The First Android XR Device
Google confirmed that Samsung’s Project Moohan headset will debut as the first hardware to run Android XR, launching in 2025. The device, developed in collaboration with Qualcomm, promises:
- Hybrid XR Experiences: Blend of VR and AR modes.
- AI-Powered Controls: Hands-free navigation via Gemini.
This partnership follows reported delays due to internal disagreements, but the focus now is on delivering a competitive alternative to Apple’s Vision Pro.
Competing with Apple’s Vision Pro
Google’s strategy emphasizes accessibility and app availability, addressing two major pain points of Apple’s $3,600 Vision Pro:
- Cost: Project Moohan’s pricing remains undisclosed but is expected to be more affordable.
- App Library: Android XR’s Play Store compatibility ensures a vast app catalog from day one.
Google is also optimizing apps like YouTube, Google TV, Chrome, Maps, and Photos for immersive XR experiences—a stark contrast to its absence on Vision Pro.
Future Expansions: Glasses and Beyond
Google teased XR glasses with “all-day help” functionality, currently in prototype testing. The platform will also support devices from partners like Lynx, Sony, and XReal, leveraging Qualcomm’s XR technology. Notably, Google continues its collaboration with Magic Leap, though their adoption of Android XR is unconfirmed.
Google’s XR Journey: A Fresh Start
After past ventures like Project Tango, Daydream, and Cardboard VR fizzled out, Android XR represents Google’s renewed push into XR—backed by AI and a robust developer ecosystem. Will this be the formula that finally sticks? The industry is watching closely.
Image Credits: Google
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