The technology world is on the verge of a new era of augmented reality (XR). After Google introduced the Android XR software platform last year, and this year we saw the Samsung Galaxy XR, the technology giant used the exhibition The Android Show to reveal the next step in the evolution of wearable devices. In the spotlight was Project Aura - smart glasses with a cable, developed in partnership with the Chinese company Xreal.
Project Aura from Xreal is the first device in the category of “smart glasses with a cable“, which works under the control of Android XR. The philosophy behind this design is elegant and pragmatic: in order to achieve a lighter and more compact design, comfortable to wear for a long time, most of the computing power has been moved to a separate, portable module.
This “computing module“ can be easily carried in a pocket or attached to a belt. The idea is to solve the main problem of full-fledged VR headsets - their weight and impracticality for prolonged, daily use, or when traveling (for example, on an airplane). Xreal manages to give Project Aura a look much closer to traditional glasses than to a bulky VR helmet.
Since the goal of Project Aura is not full immersion, as is the case with VR, the focus is on augmented reality (AR). The glasses support a 70-degree field of view and use advanced optical pass-through technology.
This means that digital content is superimposed on the user's real view. This approach allows you to access a private virtual screen for work, navigation or entertainment without being disconnected from your surroundings.
Interestingly, in terms of performance and computing capabilities, Project Aura is an exact copy of the larger and more powerful Samsung Galaxy XR. The device runs the same Android XR operating system and is powered by an identical processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2.
This hardware provides the same gesture control system and support for all applications that are already available for the Galaxy XR. Google undoubtedly aims to unify the ecosystem, offering a variety of form factors to meet the different needs of users.
Google sees the XR glasses as the perfect device for everyday use and travel, where wearing a full-fledged VR headset would be extremely uncomfortable. While key details about Project Aura are still lacking, including exact pricing, battery life, and a final name, the tech giant has announced that a full market launch is planned for 2026 – a year that could prove to be a watershed for personal technology.