Today, at Google I/O 2026, XREAL offered new details about Project Aura smart glasses, which will launch globally this year.
XREAL has unveiled more information about its brand-new wired smart glasses to the media and attendees at Google I/O. The latest innovative wearable is powered by Android XR and Gemini and developed in collaboration with XREAL, Google, and Qualcomm. Project Aura leverages OLED displays to provide clarity with what’s being displayed, with a 70-degree FOV. Powering the device is an X1S and Snapdragon dual-chip design.
Project Aura offers users spatial computing capabilities through apps like Google Maps. Users will be able to explore and navigate spatially using Project Aura. The smartglasses provide “massive” and mini-screen viewing experiences, designed for multitasking while viewing media. The idea of Project Aura is to provide users with the means to look up a recipe while cooking, create a workspace at a coffee shop, or use a hands-free navigator while walking the streets of a city.
The smartglasses are designed to support 360-degree VR videos, including 2D and 3D videos that are said to be “brought to life” by Project Aura’s displays. YouTube’s use of 180-degree VR videos is also supported.
Project Aura is compatible with a plethora of devices, including smartphones and laptops, thanks to its built-in design. Using a laptop’s DisplayPort input, the device can leverage multimodal AI capabilities in a 3D AR space. This can also integrate Gemini support and autospatialization.
XREAL confirms that next-generation AI-powered Android XR games and interactions designed for wearables are being supported by Project Aura.
Last year, at Google I/O, XREAL and Google announced Project Aura as part of a broader Android XR strategy. XREAL and Google have confirmed that Project Aura will launch globally in 2026. Pricing and specific release timing in Canada are still unknown.
The Android XR Developer Catalyst Program is officially launched, however. Developers can apply to help create XR apps supported on Project Aura.
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