At Google I/O, we got more hands-on time with Android XR, though in the form of more compact, wearable glasses. Companies such as Xreal and Samsung are aiming to bring Android smart glasses to the masses later this year with more portable models that can be worn anywhere, unlike the rather massive Galaxy XR headset. More importantly, Google is leaning on Samsung to bring its vision of "intelligent eyewear" to consumers with stylish offerings.

We're still some months away from an official launch, but Samsung's announcement reinvigorated excitement for Android XR after a year of waiting for a proper competitor to Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses. However, Samsung and, more importantly, Google, will have to learn from past mistakes to truly get Android XR off the ground and avoid another "Glassholes" situation.

Understanding smart glasses

The smart glasses market is still somewhat in its infancy, and it has only recently begun to pop off. Right now, Meta absolutely dominates the market, doing a great job establishing the glasses as a media device with AI features, as opposed to the other way around. In fact, it wasn't until later that the company really leaned into AI, adding multimodal capabilities that let Meta AI "see" what you're seeing so you can make sense of it.

But now that AI and even displays are becoming part of the picture, consumers are starting to wonder what the endgame is. And in a world where smartphones are everywhere, the purpose of smart glasses isn't clear to everyone, especially when consumers aren't even fully convinced that smart watches are necessary.

I spoke with Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's worldwide device tracker, who told me in an interview that while the long-term goal for smart glasses (or intelligent eyewear, as Samsung likes to call it) is to eventually replace our smartphones, though it's "not happening anytime soon," even as AI models like Gemini become more capable.

However, in the short term, smart glasses are positioned as smartphone companion devices, and companies have to make their use cases simple and appealing for consumers.

According to Ubrani, "the selling point or the more immediate selling point for a lot of these smart classes today is really audio-video first and AI second. And so that's a very clear and easy use case to sell to consumers."

Let's face it, we live in a content-driven world, and Meta is leaning into its ownership of Instagram to help draw consumers in.

"It's great for content creators," Ubrani tells me. "And it offers value in the sense that it's reducing friction that consumers would otherwise have or face if they didn't use these glasses. It's a lot easier for me to take a picture with my glasses than pull my phone out of my pocket, open the camera app, and take a picture. Same thing with translation and playing music."

I myself am pretty new to the current iteration of camera-touting AI glasses, but I have recently found myself taking the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 to concerts and other social events. I like that it saves me from being another smartphone hovering above the crowd and lets me easily capture images and videos with little effort.

I am also planning to run my first 5K later this year, and I already know the Ray-Ban Metas will be on my face to document much of the experience.

This is the kind of experience Google and Samsung need to lean on with their upcoming smart glasses. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to have Gemini on my face, frankly, because I'm more invested in Google's ecosystem than Meta's. However, perceptions of AI remain mixed at best, and not everyone will be as excited about their glasses being able to tell them what’s in front of them or order an Uber.

That's why it makes sense for Google and Samsung to focus less on AI, while obviously not ignoring it. Draw consumers in with stylish eyewear and a great camera to capture images and video they can immediately post to their socials. Then remind them about the extra benefits that come with having Gemini or even a display on their face, such as real-time translation and Nano Banana editing features.

And for some, this is already a benefit that Google and Samsung will have over Meta, especially given how Android XR will be deeply integrated with their smartphones.

"From the device maker's perspective — from Google's perspective — it's about creating stickiness," Ubrani notes. "You stay within their ecosystem. You use their products and services more. And they're able to, in turn, learn from that and create more stickiness further down the line."

Fashion and Gen Z are the key

If Samsung and Google want Android XR to take off, they will have to do more than just partner with companies like Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. This is a great start, following Meta's strategy to get more smart glasses in consumer hands by bringing the tech to stylish, everyday eyewear. And from the looks of it, Samsung's glasses may be something the average consumer would want to put on their face.

The next step is to get the marketing right by appealing to Gen Z and fashion types. Ubrani highlights how this has worked for Meta, noting how the company had a mix of "fashion influencers and fashion blog writers" at Meta Connect alongside analysts, journalists, and developers.

It's a strategy I've noticed lately with more tech companies. Motorola has leaned heavily on Gen Z as its target audience for the Razr series, while also partnering with fashion icons like Paris Hilton. This strategy has helped the company achieve new heights with its Razr series, now with half of the U.S. foldable market, a far cry from just a few years ago, when it was clawing its way back to relevance.

"We need to see Google do some of the same," Ubrani tells me. "It can't just rely on Samsung or Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. It has to invest on its own, going after a very mainstream audience that may not necessarily pay attention to tech."

That's not to say Google needs to create a pair of first-party smart glasses. While Google is surely capable of making its own "Pixel Glasses" or the like, Ubrani thinks it's way too early for Google, as the company isn't exactly known as a fashionable brand.

I will say that the Pixel smartphone lineup is slowly changing the perception of Google's products (they've never looked better). Still, the search giant doesn't have the market share Samsung does, and that's a clear reason the companies are working so closely together on Android XR, just as they did with Wear OS. It would be nice to see other companies like Motorola in the mix, but Google is putting its best foot forward to get things off the ground, which I think should help it in the long run.

Other challenges

With Samsung at the helm and Google's backing, Android XR is clearly poised to challenge Meta's dominance or even stave off an eventual Apple entry… right? Ubrani isn't fully convinced.

"It's not to say that they're not capable, it's just that Meta's partnership with EssilorLuxottica is huge, right? Because EssilorLuxottica is the largest glasses maker in the world. They have a huge amount of distribution [Meta is] leveraging to sell these glasses. Then on Meta's side, Meta has this marketing and ad business that's huge and rivals Google's in many ways, and they're also leveraging that."

It also helps that Meta has been willing to lose money on its Reality Labs division to sell its glasses. This heavy subsidizing has paid off, helping get more glasses on more faces, despite lacking the same ecosystem lock-in that Google will clearly benefit from. But even so, Ubrani thinks Samsung and Google need to be willing to do the same if Android XR is to be successful, especially since their partners don't have the same level of distribution as Meta and EssilorLuxottica.

"But you know, Samsung has scale, Google has scale, and so potentially they can get there. I just don't know if they're quite there yet, and it's a little too early to kind of make the call as to if they will get there."

The pieces are falling into place

When Google Glass launched in 2012, it was doomed to fail for many reasons. Aside from being too ahead of its time, the device just didn't have any consumer appeal. Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem at Google, said as much while speaking to the media at Google I/O this week.

"The most important thing I learned is that fashion comes first, technology comes second."

It sounds as if Google is well aware of the steps it needs to take to ensure Android XR is successful and doesn't repeat the same mistakes it did in the past. And by leaning on Samsung, Google can potentially avoid any direct comparisons to Google Glass.

It also helps that consumer perception has changed from the days of Google Glass. With the prevalence of social media and the omnipresence of smartphone cameras, consumers are more accepting of camera-laden eyewear, even if there's still some hesitation.

"We've certainly come a long way from glassholes where these things are more welcome, and in some cases, you also know people genuinely want cameras on their faces," Ubrani says.

"It's not to say that the work's done, like I think there are still some social taboos, and we need to change some of these social norms... but we're certainly more accepting of the technology today than we were 10 years ago."

It's been a long time coming, but we finally got to see Xreal Project Aura in action at Google I/O 2026. The hybrid smart glasses are designed to deliver a VR experience in a smart glasses form factor, so you get the full power of the Android XR platform without the bulk of a VR headset. Project Aura packs dual displays (one in each lens), speakers, and cameras to deliver an upgraded smart glasses experience.

To achieve this, Xreal Project Aura is designed a little differently than other smart glasses you can buy today. Instead of cramming all the electronics and battery into the glasses, Xreal will be shipping Aura specs with a small compute puck that fits comfortably in your pocket. This little puck holds the battery, Snapdragon processor, and most of the heavier components, so the glasses stay as light as possible and look more like a regular pair of glasses.

Xreal is still outfitting Aura glasses with an upgraded X1S chip and a set of cameras that allow it to spatially track your position, so you can get that full VR spatial experience. This upgraded X1S chip focuses on improved speed and multitasking compared to the X1 chip in the current-generation Xreal One glasses.

Fundamentally different from every other pair of smart glasses

Xreal released many of the first official details of Project Aura after the Google I/O 2026 show yesterday, a full year after the initial unveiling at last year's I/O. During a product briefing ahead of I/O 2026, Xreal told me to expect the glasses to make their commercial debut this year. Whether that'll be alongside the new Samsung-built AI glasses in the fall, or slightly closer to the holidays, is up in the air.

Since Tuesday afternoon's information release, there's been some confusion about how Project Aura works. These glasses aren't the same as current-generation glasses like Xreal 1S or Viture Beast. Those glasses are just a wearable monitor that you plug into another device, like your phone, laptop, or even a device like the Nintendo Switch 2.

Xreal Project Aura is intended to be used entirely on its own, though it also doubles as a wearable monitor, if you want. But normally, you'll plug it into the compute puck I mentioned above and get the full Android XR experience. That means full spatial tracking of your surroundings and hand tracking (to enable natural movement and interaction), plus support for all existing Android 2D and spatial apps.

You can see it in action at the link below (jump to 12:16 if the link doesn't do that for you).

The puck itself looks like a phone, but it's not. It's a clear evolution of 2024's Xreal Beam Pro, including the dual USB-C ports on the bottom.

Xreal stopped short of announcing a specific Snapdragon chipset for the compute puck. Still, since it's designed to offer the full Android XR experience, it's going to be far more capable than the chipsets found in all-in-one XR glasses like Ray-Ban Display or even the monocular display glasses Google and Samsung are working on.

Project Aura features a 70-degree field of view (FoV), which is about 15 degrees wider than the best smart glasses available today, but still about 20-30 degrees narrower than a VR headset like the Meta Quest 3. Whether you'll want to play VR games on this regularly remains to be seen, but the glasses should be perfect for mixed-reality games that overlay virtual objects onto the real world or use the real world as a backdrop.

Based on Android Central managing editor Derrek Lee's hands-on time and analyst Anshel Sag's notes, it's clear Xreal and Google have put some impressive work into translating the VR experience into a sleek pair of smart glasses. Sag says the narrower FoV is impressive and translates the Galaxy XR experience faithfully. As a regular Galaxy XR user, this is exactly what I was hoping to hear!

Additionally, the image quality and performance seem to be on par with the headset for daily tasks. Since the glasses have Gemini built in, they can detect faces and automatically dim the display so you can see the person standing in front of you best, making this feel even more like a magic floating display.

Project Aura doesn't have a final product name, price, or specific release date, but we expect it to be available later this year, likely at a similar (or slightly higher) price to the new Xreal ROG R1 glasses announced last week. Xreal is sending out the first 1,000 devkits for free, which means there's no real investment for developers to begin making Android XR spatial apps right now. The future looks very bright for this tech, and Aura will lead the way in the next big XR push.

Google I/O is currently underway, and after sitting through a monotonous an exciting keynote address, I got the chance to demo some upcoming Android XR glasses and prototypes. Samsung and Xreal are seemingly two of the most dedicated players in the space, and I got to try both Xreal's glasses and the latest Google prototype, which the Samsung glasses are no doubt based on, giving us a look at how Android XR will span different types of eyewear.

Samsung was set to launch Android XR hardware last year with the Galaxy XR, but it's a large, bulky device you wouldn't want to wear around. This time around, the focus is on more compact glasses for everyday wear. These are the ones I got to play with, and while I can't wait for audio-only glasses to come around, I'm more excited about what Samsung and Xreal have in store when it comes to display glasses.

Xreal is unreal

The first demo I got to try was arguably the more interesting one. Xreal teased its Project Aura glasses last year, and I was able to give them a spin ahead of the launch later this year. These glasses sport two OLED displays behind the lenses, one for each eye.

If you're familiar with Xreal products, the design here shouldn't surprise you. They're thick glasses that sit a little further from your face than usual, in order to give you room for the displays. It's a design I'm not a fan of from the outside looking in, but when they're on your face, you don't notice the difference.

The Project Aura glasses have two cameras on either side of the lenses for perception and tracking, while the middle is for taking photos and videos. One temple holds all the buttons: volume rocker, Home/Gemini, and a dimming button to control the electrochromic dimming of the lenses.

There's also a separate puck that connects to the glasses, which houses the battery and compute (it's powered by Snapdragon). I wasn't able to get solid figures on battery life, but you can probably get through a full movie while wearing them.

The puck also has a touch panel to control the glasses, which I thought was pretty clever. And in true Xreal form, you can plug in other devices like laptops and phones to display your windows and apps.

So, what was it like to use the glasses? Pretty cool actually! The visuals are better than I expected: Text is legible, colors feel plenty vibrant, and everything is super responsive. Aside from the puck, you can use gestures to control the glasses, similar to Galaxy XR. You pinch and drag to select, move, and resize objects.

Interacting with the Android XR UI feels intuitive and reminds me of the Quest 3, so I was able to pick it up quickly, swiping through and resizing apps.

I opened a trailer for the Spider-Man 2 video game, and at first, the video looked a bit washed out, which worried me. Then I adjusted the electrochromic dimming, which supports five levels. Eventually, the video looked super crisp and vibrant, as if I was watching it on my laptop's OLED display. I was thoroughly surprised at how good it was, and it even stayed in place against a wall as I moved around.

Second, I was able to play with an app created for the glasses using Antigravity. I basically used my hands to paint shapes in a 3D space by pinching my fingers together. I could change the colors of the "paint" and even alter the thickness by twisting my wrist. And again, it stayed in place as I moved around the space. I admit, this left me very impressed.

According to Xreal, Project Aura is a sort of in-between device, aiming to give us the power and utility of the Galaxy XR (hence, the external power puck), but in a more compact form factor like the Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses. I never got to use Galaxy XR, but I was left more excited about display glasses than I ever was before.

Making a case for monocular display glasses

I also got to try Google's prototype monocular display glasses, which are used as a reference model for Samsung's upcoming glasses. This isn't my first time using them, but there were some new tricks I was able to try this time around. For instance, there are new widgets you can access and scroll through by swiping on the touch panel.

One widget is the Translate widget, which I opened with a tap and used to translate what someone was saying to me in Korean. And even as the person paused before continuing to speak, the glasses kept translating, which felt like a small but really useful component.

Additionally, I was able to take advantage of Nano Banana on the glasses—which feels a little crazy to do on glasses—but given their visual nature, I guess it makes sense. I was able to take a photo of myself with the glasses, then tell Gemini to put me in space with Neptune in the background. It took some time to generate (everyone was on the Wi-Fi), but a preview appeared on the glasses and on the paired Pixel.

But even previously announced features like Google Maps integration is still impressive on monocular displays like this. It's cool to see a simple directions in your line of sight as you're walking, but tilt your head downwards, and the glasses will display a section of map so you can actually visualize where you're going as you go. I can see this being much more useful than glasses just barking directions at you.

It may take some time to get used to the single display, which sits on the right lens, but your eyes adjust fairly quickly. And unlike dual-display glasses like Project Aura, information is displayed in a much simpler way so as not to overwhelm you.

The singular display option feels like a nice medium between audio glasses and full-on XR glasses, and I'm really excited to see how Samsung and others incorporate them into various designs. I still feel like audio glasses are more my speed, but my experience at Google I/O left me much more open to display glasses.

Both Xreal and Samsung are expected to launch their glasses later this year. Let's just hope they're not priced out of reach.

What you need to know

• Gucci's parent company Kering is launching luxury smart glasses with Google in 2027.
• The glasses will run on Google’s new Android XR platform, a dedicated ecosystem designed to power everything from headsets to stylish frames.
• Specs and features of the upcoming glasses remain a mystery for now.

The idea of smart glasses that look stylish instead of futuristic has always seemed out of reach. Now, though, the fashion industry and Silicon Valley are joining forces to make it happen. Kering, the company behind Gucci, just announced a partnership with Google to launch luxury smart glasses as soon as next year.

The Gucci smart glasses will probably use Android XR, which is Google’s latest effort to succeed in the extended reality market. While smart glasses have been around before, most versions had trouble being both useful and stylish enough for people to wear.

Now, Google is making another attempt with Android XR, a platform meant to support everything from headsets to lightweight glasses. This time, instead of working alone, Google is teaming up with major fashion brands to solve the design problems that tech companies often face.

Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault says the company aims to launch in 2027, Reuters reports.

Substance over sci-fi

So what can you expect? While there aren’t many details yet, we can expects features like notifications, navigation overlays, real-time translations, and possibly AI tools, all shown right in your line of sight. Essentially, it’s the typical smart glasses features, but designed to look like they belong in a Gucci store instead of a tech lab.

That’s more important than it might seem. Earlier smart glasses often failed because they looked strange or attracted too much attention. Now, companies like Kering are betting that good design will turn smart glasses from a novelty into something people want to wear every day.

Android XR should support several hardware partners, so Gucci’s glasses could be just one of many styles using the same platform. This could lead to a wider range of prices, designs, and uses, from luxury items to more affordable choices.

Still, battery life, privacy issues, and everyday usefulness are still major challenges.

Android Central's Take

The real advantage isn’t just a small green Gucci logo on the hinge. It’s that Android XR will finally have a flagship product, pushing Google to complete the software instead of leaving it unfinished. You’ll probably get better AI, smoother notifications, and maybe glasses that don’t make you look like you’re wearing a relic from the 2014 Google Glass days.

What you need to know

• Samsung detailed a major update for Galaxy XR, which loops in Android Enterprise support, laying the foundation for real-world possibilities.
• It states the Galaxy XR is now viable in industries such as training, healthcare, and more.
• Regular users get accessibility updates for single eye tracking, alongside an "enhanced" virtual keyboard for personalization, and a "desktop session restore."

Samsung's Galaxy XR headset is the recipient of a "key" software update this week that gives it a window into the workforce.

In a press release, Samsung announced this update for the Galaxy XR, stating it adds "new enterprise capabilities," while also rolling out improvements for "everyday capabilities." A joint blog post goes in-depth with the Galaxy XR's new Android Enterprise support. Samsung's EVP and head of XR R&D, MX Business, James Choi, said, "Our vision for XR extends beyond hardware — it’s about building a secure, scalable ecosystem informed by our users."

As Android Enterprise joins Android XR (and the Galaxy XR by extension), users will find enterprise-grade controls and efficiency. Samsung states that this creates a "scalable" foundation that could bring the Galaxy XR into real-world industries, such as "training, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail." This update brings protections for sensitive data.

The Enterprise app is said to lean on Managed Google Play, making it easy for users to roll out and update apps. Additionally, the following device enrollment methods are available: Android zero-touch, QR code setup, and Device Policy Controller (DPC) identifier provisioning.

For standard users, Galaxy XR is starting to roll out an "enhanced" virtual keyboard that lets you save alternate keyboard positions for better personalization. Whatever your chosen vertical position or depth was previously, Galaxy XR will remember it. A "desktop session restore" feature is rolling out, meaning users can quickly reopen the last three apps they were using.

Eye Tracking update & Spatialization

On the accessibility side, the Galaxy XR expands single eye tracking and pointer customization to better assist users with differing "sight or mobility" requirements. Auto Spatialization arrives for Google Chrome and YouTube, capable of turning 2D content into 3D (this includes photos, alongside videos). Lastly, the wall panel alignment, a Labs feature for Galaxy XR, is a feature that helps integrate content viewed through the headset to your physical surroundings.

Samsung says this Galaxy XR update is rolling out today (Apr 7).

So far, there have been a couple of ways to use the Galaxy XR that have stood out to us. On one hand, you have its usefulness as a "laptop for your face." Samsung was in a unique position with Galaxy XR, as it made it clear from the jump that "All apps built on the Android platform work right out of the box on Galaxy XR." While it makes it possible for users to quickly hop in and get work done in a different setting, not everyone's going for it, due to its steep price point.

Then, you have its gaming capabilities, which Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich took advantage of, turning the Galaxy XR into a pretty decent Steam Frame.

Android Central's Take

There was another thing pretty clear about the Galaxy XR earlier this year, and that's that it heavily relies on AI; namely Gemini. Google's AI opens apps quickly on the device, helps users find places to eat within the immersive Maps experience, and much more. Samsung is about the "multimodal AI" aspect of the Galaxy XR, which makes sense once you get involved with it. Hell, you can even generate AI videos, thanks to Veo 3 on the headset. But, after today's patch, it looks like Samsung is going all in on what else the headset can be.

With The Android Show now out of the way, attention is shifting toward Google's next big event. Google I/O is easily one of the company's biggest events of the year, and honestly, one of the biggest tech events overall.

We've already heard about many of the major Android 17 features and updates during last week's Android Show. Now it's time for the spotlight to shift toward Google's other products and services, especially Gemini. I/O is usually where we hear about everything else shaping Google's ecosystem, from AI and Workspace to broader software updates and developer tools.

For 2026, Google has confirmed that I/O will run across two days, May 19 and May 20. The main keynote kicks off on Tuesday, May 19, at 1 p.m. ET, followed by multiple developer sessions, workshops, and announcements throughout the event.

The Android Central team will also be there in person to cover everything live and bring updates directly from the ground.

That said, this year's I/O is shaping up to be a pretty major one, with big updates expected across Google's services and platforms. If you're wondering how to watch I/O 2026 live and what announcements to expect, here's everything we know so far.

When is Google I/O 2026?

This year's Google I/O kicks off on May 19, with the main keynote starting at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. As it has done in recent years, Google first hinted at the dates through an online puzzle before officially confirming them shortly after.

Similar to the past few years, the main I/O keynote will once again take place at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California. Thankfully, Google will livestream the entire event for those who can't attend in person.

If you do want to attend in person, you can register to watch the keynote live alongside developers and partners, with full details below.

How to live stream Google I/O 2026 keynote

Alongside confirming the dates, Google had initially opened in-person registrations for I/O 2026, allowing developers to sign up for the event. However, registrations have now filled up, and it is no longer possible to register for an in-person spot.

That said, you can still watch the entire event live through Google's official I/O website and YouTube channel. We've also updated the livestream link above, so you can directly come back here during the keynote and watch it from this page itself.

Since Google is streaming the I/O 2026 keynote on YouTube, you'll pretty much be able to watch it on any device you want, whether that's your Android phone, laptop, smart TV, tablet, or even a gaming console. You can even get notified about when the event goes live by tapping the Remind me option in the YouTube embed above.

What to expect from Google I/O 2026?

As for what to expect from Google I/O 2026, the event is shaping up to be one of Google's most important conferences in recent years. And not just because of Gemini or AI, but because for the first time in a long while, Google seems to be working on multiple operating systems and platforms that could finally take center stage.

The company has already revealed a lot about Android 17, but there are still several unanswered questions. We still haven't properly heard about the operating system powering Googlebook devices, and Google also hasn't shared much about Android XR yet.

With Samsung expected to debut its Galaxy Glasses at Unpacked in July, it's very likely that Google will finally unveil Android XR for smart glasses during the I/O keynote this year.

Of course, Gemini will remain at the center of almost everything Google announces. The company is expected to talk not just about the chatbot itself, but also deeper Gemini integrations across Search, Chrome, Workspace, and Android.

There have also been recent leaks around something called the Gemini Omni model. Right now, Gemini can already help edit images using text prompts, but Google reportedly wants to take things much further with video editing. The Omni model is expected to allow much more advanced text-to-video and video-to-video editing workflows.

We may also hear more about Google's rumored desktop ambitions. Aluminium OS hasn't been officially confirmed, but if Google is serious about unifying Android and ChromeOS, I/O would be the ideal stage for it.

As in previous years, Android Central will be on the ground at Google I/O, bringing you full coverage and the latest updates from the keynote. We'll also host a live blog during the event so you can follow along in real time. Be sure to tune in on May 19 for live coverage.

I didn't expect it, but the Samsung Galaxy XR has become the ultimate portable gaming machine. Not only can it natively play any Android game from the Google Play Store, but one free app even lets you run Steam games with no configuration or nonsense involved. No cloud streaming, no ridiculous subscription. Just your favorite Steam games, all running natively on the Galaxy XR (and even your Android smartphone).

If you haven't heard of GameHub yet, it's about high time you check it out. Available for free on the Google Play Store, GameHub is a fork of the popular Winlator app that integrates several cloud gaming services and social features, plus a friendly user interface and automatic configuration for every game you download. It's as easy to use as a Steam Deck, and the wearable hardware makes it even better.

Why choose an XR headset to play these games on instead of a phone or a portable system like a Steam Deck? Neck and arm comfort, mainly, as you don't have to look down at a system or hold it up high for hours at a time. The screen just floats in front of your face, no matter if you're sitting up or lying down. Really, it's as good as a portable gaming system can get. It's the sort of functionality you'll get on the upcoming Steam Frame headset, except you don't have to wait for Valve to release it.

Playing Steam games on the Galaxy XR

GameSir, makers of many of our favorite mobile controllers, debuted an app called GameHub on the Google Play Store last November. It's a customized fork of the popular Winlator app, which people have used for years to emulate Windows on Android, but it's more user-friendly.

In the app, you connect your Steam account, and it more or less ends up looking like SteamOS running within an app window on the Galaxy XR. Fire up the app, tap Steam, and your entire library is now fully playable on the Galaxy XR without any further configuration. I connected the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth controller to my Galaxy XR to play the games, but I'm sure GameSir would appreciate it if you used one of their controllers instead.

When the app debuted, it caught a lot of flak on places like Reddit for requiring too many permissions, but the latest version of the app doesn't require any permissions to get it running. Not even notification permission, although it'll harass you from time-to-time about enabling them. If you're concerned about telemetry data, someone forked a version on Github with that stuff removed. Another option is GameNative.

Once you've got GameHub installed, run it and sign into your GameSir account, or just use the modded GameHub Lite version linked above, which doesn't require an account. Then, you'll open up the menu on the left, select Steam from the list, and sign into your Steam account.

Now, any time you launch the app, you'll be greeted with a Steam button right on the front that takes you to your Steam library. Just like on a Steam Deck, find the game you want, hit the install button, and then you can just play it from there on out. No cloud connection needed, no subscription required. It's all running on the Galaxy XR.

If you're worried about compatibility or performance, you can run a check on each game before it's installed, which gives you a decent idea of whether the game will work or not.

You can also configure additional options if you want or need to make performance adjustments, but I found the default settings to be more than adequate for my needs. If you run into issues or just want to touch up on your GameHub knowledge, this YouTube video is an excellent resource and uses a phone that sports a processor slightly slower than what's in the Galaxy XR, so those settings (starting at the 4:50 mark) will help you get the best out of the system.

If you want to experiment with just one feature, though, I'd recommend enabling Snapdragon Super Resolution, which is available in GameHub's menu found when pressing the home button on your connected controller. You can also learn about it in the video linked above at the 9:18 minute mark.

I found performance to be incredibly similar to my Steam Deck, despite that this app has to translate x86 code to the headset's ARM processor. Portal 2, for instance, ran at a locked 60fps on both my Steam Deck and the Galaxy XR, but newer games like Resident Evil Requiem are simply too taxing to run on this level of hardware. We'll have to wait and see if the actual Steam Frame fares better with them since it has a faster processor.

Taking all the best Steam Frame features now

I recently wrote about how two of the Steam Frame's best features already work on the Galaxy XR, and now even the emulation of Steam games is possible on Samsung's Android XR-powered headset. That means three of the four big pillars of what's going to make the Steam Frame great — foveated streaming, a dedicated wireless network, and native Steam game compatibility — are available on the Galaxy XR right now. The only thing missing is running PC VR games natively, something the Frame might continue to stand out for.

The only thing you'll need for standard Steam games to work is a Bluetooth controller of some kind, like this GameSir Cyclone 2. For PC VR games, you'll want a pair of Galaxy XR controllers and the Virtual Desktop app on the Google Play Store. Once you've got those (and a VR-ready PC), you're all set.

It's pretty wild seeing the Steam Frame's best features already make their way to other headsets before Valve's next-generation headset even launches, but it's (ironically) all thanks to Valve and the work they've poured into Proton and FEX over the years.

Google typically hosts its I/O conference in the second or third week of May, and although it is still a couple of months away, the company has already confirmed that I/O 2026 will take place on May 19 and 20 at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California.

Following tradition, Google released a teaser game ahead of the official I/O 2026 reveal, but it didn't take long for the company to confirm the dates. The keynote will begin at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET on May 19.

Like previous years, the Android Central team will be on the ground bringing you all the announcements and latest news from Mountain View. But what can you actually expect from I/O 2026? Google has not officially shared details yet, but here is a quick look at what we expect to see.

Android 17 and Wear OS 7

Google has shifted its major Android release cycle, with big updates now arriving mid-year instead of alongside Pixel launches in Q3. This first happened with Android 16, and the same pattern appears to be continuing with Android 17. Google has already started testing the new version, recently rolling out Android 17 Beta 1.

Android 17 carries the codename 'Cinnamon Bun,' and the current beta doesn't include many visible UI changes yet, aside from a few Pixel Launcher UI tweaks. That said, as with every I/O, Google will likely keep the bigger features and UI updates for Android 17 reserved for the I/O 2026 keynote.

We probably won't see a massive redesign like last year's Material 3 Expressive overhaul, but Android 17 should still bring some visual tweaks and performance improvements. There are also rumors that Google may introduce iOS-inspired glassy or blur effects, though nothing has been confirmed yet.

This year, the focus may shift more toward optimizing Android for large-screen devices, but more on this below.

In addition to Android 17, Google is also expected to unveil Wear OS 7 at I/O 2026. Wear OS 6 already introduced major improvements over Wear OS 5, including Material 3 Expressive and performance upgrades, so this year may be relatively quieter for the platform in terms of major updates.

Android XR software and hardware updates

2026 is shaping up to be a big year for wearables. We saw a flood of smart glasses and XR concepts at CES 2026, and that momentum isn't slowing down. Google moved early into the category and introduced Android XR as a unified platform expected to power many upcoming devices. We will likely hear more updates about it at I/O 2026.

Android XR already powers devices like Samsung's Galaxy XR headset, but we have not seen many other brands adopt the platform yet. Vivo offers its own XR headset, though it runs on a customized OS instead of Android XR. That could change soon, as Google is likely to partner with more brands to expand its XR ecosystem.

Beyond headsets, Google is also expected to introduce a lighter version of Android XR tailored for smart glasses. Reports suggest the company has finalized navigation and control documentation for Android XR glasses and shared it with developers for both standalone models and those with displays. I/O 2026 could be where Google dives deeper into the platform.

Google has also been working on smart glasses alongside Samsung, so we might get an early look at a commercial product during I/O 2026. Samsung has already confirmed plans to launch a Meta Ray-Ban-style rival this year.

Rumors point to two models, one with a display similar to the Meta Ray-Ban Display and one without. They are also expected to feature a built-in 12 MP camera with autofocus and a Qualcomm AR chipset.

Updates on Google's unified desktop OS (Aluminium OS)

Android 17 and Android XR might not be the only operating systems Google showcases at I/O 2026. The company has reportedly been working on a replacement desktop OS for ChromeOS, and I/O could be where we see it officially first. While there have been leaks about the rumored Aluminium OS, nothing official has been announced yet.

I've believed for a while that Android is now powerful enough to run on mainstream laptops and PCs. And even though Android has offered a desktop mode for some time, it has never fully gone mainstream. Aluminium OS could be Google's attempt at a standalone Android-based system for Chromebooks and traditional PCs.

Similar to Android's desktop mode, it would likely support windowed apps, a taskbar, a status bar, and multitasking across multiple windows. A recent leak also revealed that Gemini could play a central role in the experience.

Google has not officially acknowledged Aluminium OS, and even the name appears to be an internal codename for now. Still, we expect the company to share more details at I/O 2026.

Gemini and AI upgrades

It wouldn't be Google I/O without a heavy focus on AI and Gemini. Alongside its growing lineup of operating systems, we fully expect Google to dedicate a major part of the I/O 2026 keynote to new AI announcements.

While we can only speculate for now, it's safe to assume more Gemini across Google's entire product portfolio. The company recently upgraded Gemini with tools like Personal Intelligence and introduced a Gemini-powered AI Inbox in Gmail. However, for Android phones, the company has been testing giving Gemini more control over apps and system actions, and I won't be surprised to see a live demo on stage.

On the broader front, Google has also partnered with Apple to integrate Gemini into Apple's AI models and Siri, so we could see updates related to that collaboration as well.

Beyond mobile, updates to Search, Chrome, and Google Workspace are also almost guaranteed. Google recently introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol for agentic shopping experiences, so that could easily make its way into the keynote with partner demos.

We'll be at the I/O 2026 keynote to bring you all the latest news and hands-on coverage from the ground, so make sure you check back for updates.

For years, Meta has been trying to get Android developers to port their apps to the company's Meta Quest platform. It's a natural fit since the Quest's Horizon OS is built on Android, but most Android developers have never accepted Meta's generous incentives to port. The result is that Quest users mainly use their headsets for bespoke VR games rather than as "the next computing platform," as Zuckerberg and co originally intended.

Because of that, I wasn't entirely convinced that using a VR or XR headset was truly worthy of replacing my smartphone or laptop for my daily needs, but the Galaxy XR has proven me wrong. You see, at the heart of the Android XR operating system that powers the Galaxy XR is the Google Play Store. While that might seem like no big deal at first — afterall, most Android-powered devices have full access to Google's app store — it turns out that the app store is the killer app the Galaxy XR needs to succeed, playing to the headset's strengths nicely.

My realization of that success started last week. Right when Sony's State of Play presentation was about to begin, my son asked if I wanted to join him on Roblox. While I never need to pay close attention to these kinds of presentations — I'm a picky gamer, and only certain games really appeal to me — I also knew that Sony was bound to air something I wasn't comfortable with him watching. That's when the Galaxy XR's multitasking capabilities became the perfect tool for the next hour of my day.

The power of the Play Store

I hadn't downloaded Roblox on my Galaxy XR yet, so I quickly fired up the YouTube app, dragged it to the side, and got State of Play started so I wouldn't miss anything important. Meanwhile, I opened the Play Store and downloaded Roblox. As the first section of the Kena sequel trailer finished airing, I quickly logged into Roblox using the headset's built-in iris biometric identification and Google's excellent password manager. No fumbling with some silly spreadsheet or password manager. It just worked.

As the next trailer started, I turned on my GameSir Bluetooth controller and quickly paired it with the headset, then joined the Roblox game my son was already in. "Whoa, wait, Dad? You're in the game??" Yep, it just worked, and now I was spending quality time gaming with my son while also not missing a beat during State of Play (or letting him see some mature-rated game that'll give him nightmares).

Not only that, but the video and the game were on giant, resizable, fully movable screens. I wasn't straining my neck looking down at my phone to play, and I didn't have to watch the stream in some tiny picture-in-picture on it, either. The only other headset capable of this experience is the Apple Vision Pro, which is twice the price of the Galaxy XR.

I tried to use all of my Meta Quest headsets this way — including the Meta Quest Pro back in 2022 — but Meta was never able to nail this experience the way Google and Samsung have. It's impossible to downplay the significance of not just having all of my favorite apps at my disposal when I need them; it's also deep integration with Google services like the password manager and even Quick Share that have transformed this into a truly useful computing product.

Now, don't get me wrong, I wish there were more bespoke VR games on this headset, but that's what I have my Meta Quest for. Failing that, I've also got my PC to wirelessly stream PCVR games from, all of which are now better than ever thanks to two of the Steam Frame's best features, which are now possible on Galaxy XR.

Get into the infinite canvas

Moving and resizing windows in Android XR works surprisingly similarly to a desktop UI like Mac OS or Windows. You'll want to remember four things when multitasking with multiple apps at a time:

1. Performing the home gesture always opens the app drawer. You can launch any app this way.

2. Recent apps can be opened by holding the home gesture and moving your hand or controller to the right (the three vertical lines icon).

3. Move any window by gazing or pointing to the edge of the window, then holding and dragging the semi-transparent outline that appears.

4. Resize any window by gazing or pointing to any of the window's four corners, then holding and dragging the edge indicator that appears.

Windows can be placed anywhere in physical space and will stay there even if you get up and move around. This makes it easy to take normal breaks or to sit and stand without having to reconfigure your setup each time.

Any 2D app can be run side-by-side with other 2D apps, but immersive apps will take over your viewing space and hide 2D windows. When an immersive app is open, you can reopen a 2D window by opening the recent apps menu and selecting the app you want to see.

Being able to open any app from the Google Play Store is such an incredible convenience that makes this headset all the better for it, and I love the foundations Google and Samsung have built for making this the ultimate productivity device.

My first impressions of Samsung's Galaxy XR hardware were very good. The headset is gorgeous, light, made of quality materials, and seems to borrow the best design ideas from all the best VR headsets available. But something didn't quite feel right the first few times I wore it.

While the headset certainly shares design similarities with the Meta Quest Pro, I quickly realized that it can't be worn the exact same way. General discomfort, a narrow field of view, and even warning messages from the Android XR operating system about eye-tracking issues tipped me off to this. This couldn't possibly be the way it was meant to work, right?

While you can swap out the forehead pack with varying thickness levels, there's no way to angle the side arms for the head strap or to adjust the lens distance from your face with a wheel, the way the Meta Quest Pro worked. So I went back to step one to figure out what was wrong, and it turns out all I had to do was adjust how I put it on my head.

Getting the right angle

The left side of the above picture shows how I initially put the headset on. I started by aligning the forehead pad to the top of my forehead, then tightened the wheel on the back to ensure the headset didn't slip off. While this resulted in what I thought was geometrically correct, it turns out that the side arms shouldn't be perfectly straight horizontally.

When it's worn this way, the back padding not only doesn't correctly align with the shape of my skull, but also doesn't line the displays up with my eyes. Android XR kept telling me to move the headset down further, which was impossible since the forehead pad was already as low as it could go on my forehead.

To fix this, I changed things up by placing the front of the headset on my cheeks first, then pulling the back down onto my skull. This resulted in the front of the headset angling down ever so slightly. You can see the side-by-side in the picture below.

That was the first time I felt like the Galaxy XR fit perfectly. Suddenly, my view of the gorgeous micro-OLED displays behind the lenses felt complete. They took up a significant portion of my vision rather than the almost telescope-like feeling they had when I wore the headset the wrong way.

Not only that, but the pressure on my forehead was suddenly lifted, now evenly distributed across the back of my head. I also immediately stopped getting notifications from the OS about eye-tracking problems, and that fantastic eye-tracking navigation suddenly worked properly.

It was surprising that such a small change fixed so many problems at once, but I was glad I found it and can now properly use the Galaxy XR!

I've been a VR gamer for over a decade now, using everything from early headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift CV1 to modern headsets like the Meta Quest 3S. While these headsets offer different levels of functionality, comfort, and even controller and OS designs, most of them follow similar navigation concepts, just as Android and iOS share similar gestures and basic functions.

But when I opened up my Samsung Galaxy XR and started playing around with Android XR, I was a little confused. It admittedly took me some time before I was able to get the hang of some of the basic gestures and controls, but once I figured it out, it was smooth sailing from then on.

How to center yourself

On a Meta Quest headset or in SteamVR, holding the home button always recenters your play space, making it easy to realign the windows you have open or just reorient yourself in your environment. In Android XR, holding the home button via the finger pinch gesture does...nothing.

Given that this gesture has been a staple of VR headsets for a solid decade, I was immediately confused. I searched through the headset's menus but didn't find any obvious way to do what I wanted. Surely, the brilliant folks at Google designing Android XR didn't forget such a simple, yet vitally important gesture, right?

Of course they didn't! After figuring out how to do it, I actually prefer Samsung and Google's method of recentering the view over all the other headsets I've used, and it all happens with a simple tap of the touchpad on the right side of the headset.

On the right temple, you'll see a horizontally-centered line that shows you where the touchpad is. A long-press of that touchpad will instantly center your view and all your windows. A double-tap will switch between mixed reality and virtual reality, giving you a quick way to see the room around you in case you're immersed in a game or a movie.

Screenshot and screen recording

Recentering things wasn't the only thing I couldn't figure out for a while. Some other basic tasks, like taking a screenshot and recording a video, were also different from what I was used to. Once I figured them out, though, they made a ton of sense, especially as an Android user.

You can take a screenshot or record a video by opening up the quick settings panel, but that's not the quickest way to get the job done. Instead, you'll want to reach up to the top of the headset and press the volume down and top button at the same time.

A single click of these buttons simultaneously will instantly take a screenshot. This isn't just great for quickly performing this task; it's also the best way to ensure you capture the moment without any annoying menus getting in the way. For some bizarre reason, there's no quick action to record a video; you'll just have to tap the button in the quick settings panel to start or stop it. Here's hoping Google adds that feature in a future Android XR update!

Gemini and 3D image capture

While you're up there, two other functions will come in handy as you continue to enjoy using the Galaxy XR. Like rubbing a lamp and summoning a genie, a long-press of that top button will summon Gemini or Bixby to do your bidding. One of the main pillars of Android XR is that Gemini has immense control over anything you're doing on the headset when you want it to, and that can be a powerful tool when you're stuck or don't know how to find something. Even if Gemini can't get the job done for you, it'll tell you exactly how to do it manually.

Likewise, you can actually use Galaxy XR as a fancy 3D camera by double-pressing that top button to launch the camera app. It's not quite as elegant as using a pair of smart glasses to record video or take pictures, but it has a massive advantage: it'll capture spatial photos and video instead of boring old 2D ones.

Those are best viewed with a headset like the Galaxy XR — or an upcoming pair of Android XR smart glasses like Project Aura — because the binocular lenses provide proper spatial playback, making your photos and videos come to life like never before. Even if you haven't used the Galaxy XR to capture these memories, the Google Photos app can use the power of AI to automatically add a 3D quality to anything you have stored on the service, and that's a pretty magical feeling.

What you need to know

• Samsung has officially confirmed its next-generation AR glasses will launch in 2026 as part of its broader AI hardware roadmap.
• The confirmation came during Samsung's earnings call, where it also highlighted plans for multimodal AI across devices.
• Samsung is developing the AR glasses with Google, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster, with two models reportedly in the works.

Samsung has officially confirmed that its 'next-generation AR glasses' will arrive in 2026.

During its earnings call earlier today, Samsung reported that profits nearly tripled and said it plans to strengthen its lead in the AI chip race by launching new HBM4 products.

Alongside that, Seong Cho, EVP of Mobile Experiences, also confirmed that as part of its roadmap for this year, Samsung plans to deliver 'rich, immersive multimodal AI experiences' across a range of devices, including smartphones and "next-generation AR glasses."

This is the first time Samsung has officially shared a timeline for its upcoming AI glasses. The company first teased its Android XR glasses in October 2025 and later launched a full-fledged Galaxy XR headset.

However, Samsung has remained largely silent on smart glasses since then, making this the first concrete update on the form factor from the brand.

What we know about Samsung's AR glasses so far

Samsung has previously confirmed that it's developing its smart glasses with Google in collaboration with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The four companies are reportedly working on two AR glasses models, one with an in-lens display similar to the Meta Ray-Ban Display and another more basic pair resembling the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2).

These glasses are expected to run Android XR, but likely a stripped-down version compared to Galaxy XR to support lower-power hardware. Reports from GalaxyClub also suggest the glasses could feature a built-in 12 MP camera with autofocus, a Qualcomm AR chipset, and a 155 mAh battery.

While Samsung has confirmed a 2026 launch window, the exact timing remains unclear, though some reports point to the second half of the year.

Android Central's Take

2026 is shaping up to be a big year for AR glasses. We saw a flood of smart glasses from hundreds of brands at CES 2026, and now it looks like Google and Samsung are ready to enter the space as well.

I expect more maturity from these companies compared to many current players, as most AI glasses today offer similar features like music playback, cameras, and voice commands. With Samsung and Google building on a proper Android base layer, there is likely much more in store, and I cannot wait to see what they deliver.

What you need to know

• Google unveils two types of smart glasses, focusing on functionality and design.
• A companion app reportedly spotted, highlighting features for upcoming smart glasses.
• Privacy assured as recorded data remains exclusive to users, enhancing user trust.

Google ended 2025 with some significant announcements in its XR space, even giving us a full preview of how its smart glasses would interact with the world around us.

The tech giant is developing two types of AI glasses. The first is a lightweight, screen-free AI smart glass for all-day wear, in partnership with fashion brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The second is a display AI glass, created with hardware giants like Samsung and Magic Leap.

Google Glass Companion App in the API canary system image from r/googleglass

However, while we did see the glasses in action a couple of times, we didn't get to see much of its app that controls them. We’re getting an early peek at the software that may make this all possible.

A Reddit user seems to have spotted the companion app for Google's smart glasses. They managed to snag it by running the Android Studio preview release and setting the API to Canary preview. What's more notable is that the software seems to align with what Google mentions in their own support docs (as spotted by Android Authority).

Furthermore, the publication posted screenshots of the Canary preview that show a "Glasses" app for Google's Android XR smart glasses. It also seems to come with a package name "com.google.android.glasses.companion."

The screenshots show how users can pair their smart glasses, with a prompt stating, "Set up your Glasses now, or discover your next pair on the Google Store.” That said, the purchasing link for the glasses is currently inactive (greyed out) for obvious reasons.

But the app mentions a physical power that is placed on the right arm of these glasses, and that the LED will pulse blue or white once the glasses are ready to pair.

For the built-in camera, a settings page indicates you can import photos and videos manually, automatically, or only while charging. The smart glasses will allow you to record video clips anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes.

The website was also able to take a peek under the hood of the app and pull some strings that point to potential AI features these glasses might show up with. The app's code reveals a 'Conversation detection' feature that would obviously be powered by Gemini.

It would be capable of shutting out notifications when it hears you talking. The strings also reveal that all the conversations, images, videos, and other data recorded in the glasses will remain private to the user and will not be shared with either Google or any other company, which is a relief.

The publication further mentions other strings related to display settings, including options to turn off display, brightness, and toggle an "audio only mode."

Google seems to be building an ecosystem around its new Android XR platform, and hopefully, we get to see more of these features in action closer to launch sometime this year.

What you need to know

• Google just made Xreal its lead hardware partner, signaling a long-term, all-in push for the Android XR ecosystem.
• The partnership goes deep, with both companies co-designing hardware and software so Android XR apps behave naturally in real-world space.
• The first real product is Project Aura, arriving in 2026 with a wide 70-degree field of view and a tethered design to keep the glasses light.

Google and Xreal have taken their close relationship to the next level with a multi-year partnership. Xreal is now the main hardware partner for Google’s new Android XR ecosystem.

Google’s XR journey has had its ups and downs, starting with the promise and later retreat of Google Glass, followed by years of quiet work as others moved ahead. Things shifted late last year when Google launched Android XR, a new operating system for devices ranging from mixed-reality headsets to lightweight AR glasses.

The first products focused on bigger devices, like Samsung’s Galaxy XR headset, but Google has made it clear that glasses, not large headsets, are the real goal.

Google's AR focus is on glasses

This is where Xreal fits in. The company is known for making AR glasses that are ready for everyday use, not just prototypes. With this expanded partnership, Xreal becomes Google’s main hardware partner for "optical see-through devices."

Google and Xreal will now co-develop hardware roadmaps, align software features with physical design, and ensure Android XR apps work as people expect when projected into real space.

The first tangible result of that collaboration is Project Aura, a new pair of Android XR glasses slated to arrive in 2026. These aren’t just prototypes. They’re built to give a wide field of view, about 70 degrees, while staying connected to an external computer. This keeps the glasses themselves light.

Android XR includes familiar Android development tools, supports OpenXR, and is closely integrated with Gemini AI. Google believes this is key to hands-free, context-aware computing.

It’s still early days for Android XR. The platform is new, developer tools are still improving, and useful apps will take time to arrive. Still, the direction is clear, with Google setting the stage for XR devices people will actually want to wear.

Artificial intelligence experienced growth in 2025, with companies offering strong challenges to OpenAI for the first time.

Google used its corporate might to release more AI-powered features than any other company, Meta used its stockpile of cash to acquire top talent, and OpenAI made big bets looking toward the future. At the same time, smaller companies Perplexity and Anthropic took significant strides, but still look more like acquisition targets than serious threats. And then there's Microsoft, a company that may have tied its horse to OpenAI and an AI PC strategy too soon.

Looking ahead to 2026, I'm predicting a year of reckoning. Multiple companies made promises that they'll have to deliver on next year, like Samsung's smart glasses or OpenAI's upcoming hardware product. Additionally, the results of pending lawsuits and possible AI regulation could loom over the industry in 2026. Here's everything I'm expecting from the AI industry next year, plus what I want to see.

Brand deals and lawsuits will set the tone for AI in 2026

In my AI report card for 2025, I noted that it's hard to judge OpenAI's year because the company prioritized its future over its present. The biggest OpenAI move came just a few weeks before the new year — it inked a deal with Disney that'll see the entertainment giant invest $1 billion in equity into OpenAI. As part of the move, OpenAI will get exclusive access to Disney's intellectual property with over 200 licensed characters. Starting in early 2026, users will be able to generate Sora videos with Disney characters.

It's a big move for both companies, as the three-year licensing agreement gives OpenAI the legal use of Disney characters, with Disney presumably receiving financial kickbacks in return. OpenAI impressively got Disney to throw money its way as part of the deal, too. Perhaps most importantly, Disney sent Google a cease-and-desist letter over the company's use and generation of copyrighted material by its AI models.

How this all plays out will certainly guide the AI industry in 2026. For now, I can still generate Disney characters with Google AI models, which raises a ton of questions. Will Disney slap Google with a full-on lawsuit over its alleged copyright violations? Does legal access to Disney material give OpenAI the edge it needs over competitors as the AI race tightens? Is Disney really making enough money from this deal to justify giving up its most valuable assets to an AI company?

I'm looking forward to all of these questions being answered in 2026. This is just one of the developments involving brand deals and legal challenges for AI companies in 2026. There are multiple lawsuits filed by brands such as the New York Times, Ziff Davis, Thomson Reuters, and others that aim to force governments to decide whether training AI models on copyrighted material is legal.

In 2026, I want to see these legal questions answered, ideally with a bit of much-needed AI regulation in the mix. I'm also curious whether competitors like Google or Meta try to copy OpenAI's deal with Disney — next year could quickly become the race to secure brand deals with IP holders.

Less AI slop and more thoughtful features

It goes without saying that not every AI feature is bad, but many are. AI-generated content hit new lows in 2025, prompting Merriam-Webster to select "slop" as its word of the year, defined as "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence." In 2026, I want to see less slop and more truly useful features.

Brands, if you're reading this, stop sticking AI where it doesn't belong. I don't need Meta AI in my Instagram search bar or my WhatsApp DMs. I certainly don't need an infinite-scroll feed of AI slop in the Meta AI app required to manage my collection of Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses.

Meta is an underrated player in the AI industry, especially given its NBA-style contracts for top engineering talent, totaling hundreds of millions in compensation over multi-year deals. Next year, it needs to stop getting in its own way. Create thoughtful AI features that users seek out willingly, and remove the slop shoved into apps that are awesome otherwise.

Meta certainly isn't the only company doing this; it's simply the worst offender. Other AI companies should watch and learn what not to do, making sure to only include features in their best apps that make sense.

I want to see what Samsung, Google, and OpenAI are cooking

I mentioned Android XR as something to watch in my AI preview article for 2025, and I'm bringing it up again in 2026. That puts quite a bit of pressure on Google, the one building the software platform, and Samsung, the one curating the hardware. Eventually, the Android XR teasers and demos that keep trickling out aren't enough, and we need to see results. We finally got Samsung's Galaxy XR headset in 2025, but I'm looking forward to Samsung's upcoming pair of smart glasses even more.

I use Meta smart glasses because they're the best available right now, in my opinion, not because I'm particularly attached to Meta as a company. If Google or Samsung made a better or comparable pair of smart glasses that fit better into the Android ecosystem, there's a strong likelihood I'd be compelled to switch. That's why, in 2026, I need to finally see what Google and Samsung are cooking up. Are these companies going to challenge Meta on day one, or will their initial offerings feel lightyears behind?

As for what Samsung's XR glasses could do to win me over, expanded prescription lens support, better open-air speakers, sharper camera quality, and more comfortable frame designs are at the top of my wishlist.

Oh, and I'd also love to see what OpenAI is working on with Jony Ive on the hardware front. Gemini is slowly catching up to ChatGPT, and I think it's because Google has products and services people use every day, giving it unparalleled integration avenues. OpenAI can't build the next Android or replace Google Search and Workspace overnight, so its best option is to make an AI hardware product that actually catches on.

As an iPod kid at heart, I have skeptical faith in Ive. But like Google and Samsung, OpenAI will need to show me something tangible in 2026 to make me a believer.

AI models like Gemini 3 and GPT-5.2 are so good these days that the updates are starting to feel incremental. The next thing to watch is how these AI models will be implemented. For example, whether a brand deals with IP holders like Disney or hardware releases like XR glasses will define the next stage of the AI race. Whether the courts or legislators will take any steps to regulate the AI industry or protect copyrighted material.

In other words, 2026 is going to be an important year for AI, one way or another.

The XR market is a strange beast. I distinctly remember walking into the HTC Vive booth at MWC 2015 in Berlin and walking out as I'd just seen magic for the first time. We've seen the market make some pretty seismic shifts since then, and while 2020 was the last fundamental shift with the release of the Oculus Quest 2, 2026 may just be the most pivotal year yet for the industry.

That's because 2026 will be the year we see the first true XR glasses make their debut. Sure, we've seen plenty of cool face computers from Meta, RayNeo, and even Snapchat make impressive strides in smart glasses design, but I think it's the partnership between Xreal and Google that's going to really showcase the next evolution in XR we've been craving.

In short, I think Xreal's Project Aura will be the holy grail people have been asking for, bridging the gap between immersive (but bulky) VR headsets and lightweight (but limiting) smart glasses. Android Central editor Michael Hicks got to try them in early December, and his impressions offered me the hope I've been longing to see.

Aura farming

Xreal Project Aura is going to totally revolutionize XR headsets as we know them when it launches in 2026. We don't have a price or a specific release date yet, but I'm pretty confident they'll launch at a lower price than Samsung's Galaxy XR, and I fully expect to see them on shelves before summertime.

Project Aura is special because it's truly the perfect combination of XR tech into one device. If you've used a pair of Xreal One glasses before, you'll understand how well they work and how comfortable they are to wear for long periods. Now, imagine those glasses with a substantially wider field of view and Android XR built in, and you'll understand why this is such a big deal.

There's been a lot of upselling of smart glasses by many outlets over the years, claiming that the latest pair "replaces the Apple Vision Pro" or some such similar nonsense. That's simply not been the case until now because smart glasses, no matter how good they have been, do not normally come with a proper operating system. Even ones that do are usually rudimentary and clunky.

But Aura is powered by Android XR, the same operating system that powers the $1800 Galaxy XR. No compromises, no silly limitations. This is the smart glasses dream that's been promised for so long, and it's coming in a form factor that won't feel weird or embarrassing to wear in public.

And I can already see the massive shift Aura is causing in the industry. Meta has already hired two of Apple's lead designers and restructured its Reality Labs division to focus on making the Quest 4 as light and agile as possible. Meta isn't even trying to compete with Android XR's vision right now because it wants to focus on making the best first-party hardware possible, and to me, that means making a Quest 4 that's more like a pair of smart glasses than what we currently think of as a VR headset.

We won't be seeing a Quest 4 in 2026, but the competition Meta will face from Google and its Android XR partners will ripple through the industry, as we saw when the Quest 2 launched in late 2020.

Letting off some Steam

So where does that leave current VR headsets? Trucking right along, really. VR headsets will remain the best way to play VR games until the Quest 4 rolls around and potentially changes that paradigm, but until then, two options will be the best choice for VR gamers.

The Quest 3 and 3S have solidified themselves as the best way to play VR games today, and the upcoming Steam Frame headset from Valve is about to evolve the industry in yet another direction. Steam Frame, like the Meta Quest, is a fully functioning VR console that's meant to be played anywhere. It's a Steam Deck for your face, and it'll likely mark the first time we can officially play Half-Life: Alyx without a PC.

That's all made possible by Valve's brilliant engineering, which translates software and hardware architectures to make it possible to play Windows VR games on a Snapdragon-powered headset. It's the evolution of the technology that enabled the Steam Deck's Linux-based OS to play Windows games, and I fully expect it to blow people's minds when it lands in early 2026.

That, of course, leaves Meta in another very weird position. While the Quest is the de facto standalone VR headset and will remain with the largest library of bespoke and exclusive VR games for years to come, Valve's new entry will be the first viable alternative since the original Oculus Quest launched in 2019.

Sure, HTC and Pico have offered some level of competition, but those companies faced significant hurdles in delivering a Quest-grade VR console that Valve won't. The biggest stumbling block for future Steam Frame owners is that Valve isn't making any new VR games. They're fully focused on making it easy for developers to make games for the Frame, and that seems to be taking up all of the company's attention for the time being.

It's going to be an extremely exciting year, with two massive shifts happening at once, and it's going to set the stage for years to come!

Grade: B

Google changed a lot of things with Android this year, bringing the launch window of Android 16 ahead by several months so the stable build is ready by the time the Pixels debuted in the fall. Along with that, it changed how it handles Android updates, with a major build going out in the summer and a minor release in the winter.

Combine that with a major UI overhaul, even tighter AI integration into its products, and Google had a busy year.

Overall, there's much greater enthusiasm around what Google has to share with the broader Android ecosystem in 2026. With Android XR headsets debuting, the integration of ChromeOS with Android, and all the new features Google is baking into Android, it's going to be an exciting year.

I made a set of predictions around Android OS last year, and it's time to see how they held up.

Regular updates: C

Look, Google does a great job rolling out regular software updates to Pixels, and it's great to see so many feature-filled updates hitting even older devices. I don't have any issues with that, and obviously, Android platform releases also go out to Google's devices the moment they're available.

My issue is with the broader Android ecosystem. Most brands still do a pathetic job with software updates (looking at you, Xiaomi and Motorola), and Google needs to step in and set the terms a little better in these situations. As it stands, there's just no reason for most phone manufacturers to bother with updates, and I want to see that change.

I'll admit this is getting better with flagships; most brands now deliver updates within a few months of the stable build, and most high-end phones will get at least four platform updates (unless you're using an ASUS phone). But with phone hardware getting much better over the last 18 months, these devices are designed to last the better part of a decade, and the software is more often than not the limiting factor.

UI tweaks: A

I like what Google is doing with the Pixel's UI. While Material 3 Expressive may not be to everyone's liking, I enjoy the interface's design, and I can't get enough of how playful and vibrant it is. As someone who tests a lot of Android phones, there's no consistency or originality when it comes to most interfaces, with most Chinese brands now emulating the Liquid Glass design of iOS 26.

In that context, it's great to see Google have a solid vision for the software and deliver it coherently. I would like the interface to make its way to other Android brands, but I know that's just wishful thinking; after talking to most phone brands, it's clear that they have their own ideology when it comes to the UI.

AI everywhere: B

Most phone brands have AI-assisted features just because it is the buzzword de jour. Google does a better job in this area, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL has a strong AI suite that's actually good to use. Magic Cue has been plenty of fun to use, and it is great at surfacing actionable information based on context. Real-time call translate works really well, and it does an eerily good job at mimicking your voice.

The features I use the most are around image editing; the Pixel holds up pretty well in this area, and utilities like Add Me are genuinely great. If there's one criticism, it's that Google doesn't organize these features; you'll stumble upon most of these as you use the phone. Samsung organizes all its AI features in the phone settings, so you can easily see what's available — Google needs to do something similar.

Android and ChromeOS integration: C

Google is taking its sweet time merging ChromeOS into Android, and although the brand talked about the upcoming integration, we haven't really heard much about it. Recent leaks point to "Aluminium OS" as the desktop-class operating system that's taking over, and the Android-based OS will be tightly integrated with AI — because you just can't build anything these days without a smattering of AI.

The goal with Aluminium OS is to make Android itself flexible so it can run on a much wider range of devices. Google did this to an extent with Android 15 and Android 16 by integrating foldable-focused features, and having an actual desktop OS built in is going to be exciting. That said, it doesn't look like we'll see what Google intends to do with Aluminium OS at least until mid-2026.

Android XR: A

I genuinely like XR glasses now, and I'm thrilled to see what's going on with Project Aura, where Google is collaborating with Xreal over XR glasses. These glasses come with an integrated OLED display and look highly interesting, and Google is said to be working on smart glasses similar to the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2, but with Gemini integration.

This past year was a whirlwind! Every single company announced a multitude of news and products, and Android Central had an incredible year covering the technology you use daily.

We saw great strides in how companies have evolved AI, and many companies launched new products that could be the future. We took the time to reflect on the year and think about what we want 2026 to look like.

This end-of-year special is split up into three sections. For the first time this year, Android Central's staff decided to give out report cards. We looked at what we wrote at the end of 2024 and asked ourselves: Did companies meet our expectations for 2025? Were they able to fulfil some of our predictions?

We also took the time to think about 2026. What do we hope to see, what kind of launches do we want, what do we expect of the companies we cover every single day? Surprisingly, this has turned into a fun experiment. At the end of 2026, will these companies meet our expectations?

Along with this, we want to show our appreciation towards those companies that released stellar products. Our team has put a lot of effort into voting and narrowing down our winners of this past year into several categories, so we hope you enjoy it.

Congratulations to all the winners! We can't wait to see what you do next year.

Finally, thank you, our loyal readers, for being the heart of Android Central. Your trust, enthusiasm, and engagement inspire everything we do. We’re deeply grateful for your continued support and for making our content a part of your daily journey.

Here’s to another exciting year of exploring, learning, and growing together in the world of Android and beyond!

Happy reading, happy holidays, and a happy New Year! Stay safe, and be happy!

- Shruti Shekar, Editor-in-Chief

IDC-exclusives

Tech in 2025: Android Central Report Cards

Android Central's Best of 2025

Tech in 2026: Android Central's Wishlist for the year

2025 has shaped up to be a year of breakthroughs and experimentation for the tech industry; smartphones and wearables don't just look different, but have started to become more user-friendly, thanks to AI. Trifold devices have arrived, ultra-thin designs are on the rise, and smart glasses are gaining popularity.

At the same time, throw in rising prices driven particularly by global tensions, and this year also marked a turning point in consumer tech, giving us a feeling that we are indeed living in the future.

Here are some of the top stories and trends of 2025 that shaped the year.

The foldable glow up: Trifold goes mainstream

While tri-fold devices aren't a new concept, they didn't really catch on, at least not in this part of the world. Huawei's Mate XT was the first to prove that this concept was indeed possible; its limited availability made it more of a distant dream rather than a usable device.

But Samsung may have changed it overnight. The company finally launched the Galaxy Z Trifold on December 1, which is said to bring the power of "the most advanced foldable technologies" right into the palm of your hands.

Essentially, making the form factor more valid and widely available to the broader smartphone market. When Samsung launches a new device, the entire ecosystem follows, from Google optimizing Android for it to carriers that might be willing to subsidize it for consumers. This also means developers will start creating apps compatible with multi-window support on a larger scale. But it doesn't just end there.

Samsung's aim wasn't about adding another screen, but to experiment with whether a trifold could actually be a usable product. While it may not replace traditional slab phones anytime soon, it could double as a tablet and a productivity tool. This kind of shift in thought from "Why would you want this?" to "Who is this actually made for?" is a huge deal. This move by Samsung could push competitors to make their own tri-fold and potentially drive people to consider owning this device.

AI takes center stage as companies shift focus

Google I/O AI Part from r/google

For the past few years, AI has been a buzzword for every major tech company. However, in 2025, we've finally started to see it pulling its weight with models like Gemini 3 Pro, ChatGPT 5.2, Meta's Llama 4, and so on.

Instead of being in the background on many devices so far, generative AI has become a core feature of smartphones, to the point that it has been baked into every aspect of the device. It can literally "see" what you see, help you navigate better, and even let you "try on" clothes while shopping online. From search and photography to productivity tools, AI can even help you create better workflows to manage your day. So much so that we even have an AI Home robot in our midst.

This year wasn't about flashy demos — it was about showing us how AI could work its way into our lives. Companies like Google, Samsung, and OnePlus also redefined the user experience with more intuitive AI. Now it doesn't just respond to your commands, but it learns from your daily routine and gives you personalized suggestions in real time.

AI has rapidly transitioned from optional software to a foundational feature on smartphones. This has altered how we interact with our devices, marking a monumental shift in consumer tech.

The rise of the ultra-slim smartphones

This year, we also witnessed several tech companies obsessed with making super-thin devices like the Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone Air, measuring 5.8 mm and 5.6mm, respectively. Fitting all the necessary components into such incredibly slim casings is an engineering marvel in itself.

Despite the hype both companies tried to create with phones, the S25 Edge and the iPhone Air saw underwhelming sales, so much so that Samsung has reportedly decided to ditch the Edge lineup for good.

Yet we feel that the slim-phone era is really just getting started. These devices may serve as crucial stepping stones toward future foldables or even slimmer rollable phones. It almost feels like the manufacturers are using these designs to experiment with new materials, improved battery technology, and more, in a quest to slim down hardware without compromising on performance.

Tariffs, Tariffs and, more Tariffs

Well, all wasn't merry in the town of Tech. Earlier this year, under the Trump administration, the U.S. imposed hefty tariffs that impacted the tech supply chain.

At first, a 10% tariff was levied on all Chinese imports, which was later increased to 20%. At the same time, the U.S. also imposed 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico. At one point, tariffs went as high as 145%, which really shook up Apple investors, and the discussion quickly broadened to include all smartphone manufacturers. That imposed a 25% tariff on smartphones, including Apple, Samsung, and other OEMs that manufacture phones outside the country. The result?

This sent all the tech companies into a frenzy, leading Samsung to reportedly ramp up production of this year's Galaxy S25 series in a preemptive move and OnePlus to suddenly increase the price of its Watch 3. These tariffs even targeted semiconductor chips and key electronics, such as memory chips and circuits, which are mostly imported from outside the country, especially from China. After a few days, the White House decided to exempt certain electronics from these tariffs temporarily.

That said, it created enough confusion for consumers and tech companies alike. This means phones aren't getting expensive just because of their hardware, but also the global polices that dictate pricing. For now, Samsung and Google have both stuck to the same price tags with their flagships; however, this could change with your next phone.

XR finally gets its moment

XR had its best moments this year as several companies raced to put the future of tech on your face. Android pushed deeper into XR and VR with the launch of Samsung's much-awaited Galaxy XR headset in October, to challenge Apple's Vision Pro.

Galaxy XR came built on Android XR, and with Google’s Gemini AI baked right in. This means it’s not just a headset running Android apps but also an AI-powered device that understands your surroundings and responds through voice, vision, and gestures.

Meta also launched new AI-powered smart glasses this year, and the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses push the boundaries of wearable tech. As these glasses let you do pretty much anything while keeping your phone tucked away, from checking messages to basically navigating through life, you get to do it all with just one glance at the in-lens display.

Google also didn't shy away from showing off its own innovations in the XR field. It gave us a quick surprise demo of its glasses at I/O and offered a first look at Project Aura from XREAL, which is reportedly equipped with a 70-degree field of view and optical see-through technology, set to launch in 2026.

This fitness tech guide isn't for the natural athletes, responsible dieters, and 10,000-steps-a-day streakers who make good habits a lifestyle. It's for the exhausted parents, disordered eaters, and indoor types who want to get healthier but struggle with it.

I'm not a natural athlete. I was a chubby kid with asthma who got healthier with high school sports, then spent years slowly regressing despite trying to stay active. It's only in the last couple of years that I've shed a few dozen pounds and become as fast as I was a decade ago.

I fully credit this to two things: Following the advice of my fitness smartwatch and sticking religiously to my New Year's resolutions. I set achievable goals at the start of the year and make myself stick to them.

This Fitness 101 guide is designed to help my fellow strugglers who need to grit and claw their way to success. I've collected Starter Kits that'll help motivate you to hit your fitness goals, as well as our best fitness guides for the technology you can trust to be accurate (and affordable).

More personally, I've gathered some of my favorite testing articles from my weekly fitness column for hitting my goals, like when I walked 10,000 steps every day or stood up every hour.

By the time Quitter's Day arrives in mid-January, I think more people can stick to their New Year's fitness resolutions if they have the right tech, plan, and mindset. I hope this guide helps you with that!

- Michael Hicks, Senior Editor, Wearables

Your New Year's Resolution Starter Kit

Fitness tips and more from the AC staff

Picking the right tech to hit your fitness goals

This is Android Central's Tech News Wrap, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, Google's new XR Glasses dropped, Samsung's One UI 8.5 beta is out, Motorola's teasing a new foldable, the December Pixel update is bugging out Pixel stand support for some, and Qualcomm just launched two new mid-range chips. Let's get into it!

Google shows off it's XR Project Aura smartglasses

Read more here

Google seems to be ending this year with a bang! During The Android Show: XR Edition, Google showed off its Android XR smart glasses and also announced some new capabilities coming to Samsung's Galaxy XR headset.

Galaxy XR is gaining new tricks, which Google says are designed to "help you fully experience the spatial capabilities of Android XR and allow you to fit your headset naturally into the things you do every day." With features like "PC Connect" and "Likeness," Google is reimagining creativity, giving users more room to be productive with the multi-view screen and a digital avatar of you that mirrors your facial expressions and hand gestures in real-time, during team meetings.

As for Project Aura, which is supposedly equipped with a 70-degree field of view and optical see-through technology, these glasses are said to overlay the digital content within your field of view, turning it into a massive screen for work or entertainment.

One UI 8.5 is here... Sorta

Read more here

Samsung also had some big announcements this week. In a press release, the company stated that the One UI 8.5 beta has finally arrived, bringing new and easier ways to create, connect, and stay safe. While it might sound like a small software tweak, One UI 8.5 brings new Galaxy AI features to the Galaxy S25 series for now.

This includes an updated Photo Assist that helps you continue without saving each iteration on your device. This means you can use AI Eraser, then move or restyle the image in Photo Assist without saving it first.

With this new beta update, Samsung also adds new Theft Protection tools, a redesigned UI with 3D icons, and a customizable Quick Settings panel. Storage Share lets users access files across Galaxy phones, tablets, PCs, and even Samsung TVs. Many apps, including Calculator, Clock, and Samsung Health, have been redesigned for better visuals.

The One UI 8.5 beta is only available on Galaxy S25 series smartphones. You can head to Settings > Software update > Download & install to get it on your device.

Motolora drops a huge hint that a Fold is coming

Read more here

Motorola seems to be working on something super exciting, and we think its CES invite might hint at its next major form factor. Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich and Derrek Lee got a package from Motorola earlier this week, and the box had an invite to its CES display, plus a wooden flip book that opens and folds into a lamp, with a dim red light.

According to Sutrich, the lamp features a magnetic clasp that keeps it fully open and folded backward. The most obvious indication is within the invite itself, which states, "We're getting ready to unfold a new perspective at Lenovo Tech World, set to take place on January 6." The emphasis on "unfold" caught our attention, given that Motorola's current foldable phones are all Flip devices.

The mysterious device might also feature a wooden finish, as suggested by the wooden cover of the foldable lamp. It also has the Motorola "M" logo engraved on it, with the line "every fold reveals a possibility."

December Pixel update got bugg-y for some

Read more here

Google recently rolled out the Android 16 QPR2 update for the Pixel 10 series. The update brought some major features to Pixel phones, but it also appears to have killed support for some Pixel wireless chargers.

No, we aren't talking about the new PixelSnap Qi2 chargers, but about some Pixel Stand chargers you may have long forgotten about. Following the update, many Pixel 10 series users report that the Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) no longer works, even though it previously worked at the "perfect angle." As reported on Reddit, placing a Pixel 10 on the Stand now causes it to flash orange and white and reportedly throw a charging error, suggesting Google intentionally broke support.

This only seems to suggest that Google wants to push its new Qi2 chargers to Pixel 10 owners, officially ending support for others on the market.

Qualcomm brings two mid-range chips to the areana

Read more here

Qualcomm announced two chips today (Dec 11) for the mid-range and entry-level markets: the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 and the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4. These chips aim to improve mid-range and entry-level phones with better AI performance, photography, and fast charging. But

The 6s 4G Gen 2 chip features a Kyro CPU and Adreno GPU for smoother visuals and multitasking. The CPU brings speeds up to 2.9GHz, with improvements to its GPU for 20% more graphical performance. The company states the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 supports 120fps, and it can facilitate low-lag on FHD Plus display phones.

While the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 gets the same specs as the 6s 4G Gen 2. Qualcomm has placed its Kryo CPU in this chip, too; however, its speeds only peak at 2.3GHz. When it comes to the Adreno GPU, smooth graphics with support for 120fps are highlighted. Such graphical promises are slated for phones with FHD Plus screens.

More stories this week

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

• Google's 'Disco' experiment is an AI browser that turns your tabs into mini apps
• Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI to put Mickey Mouse inside your text prompts
• Spotify’s ‘Prompted Playlists’ lets you take more control of its algorithm
• Fortnite's back: Epic Games sees its hit battle royale return to the Play Store
• I went hands-on with the Galaxy Z TriFold at Dubai Mall — Samsung's tri-fold has a distinct advantage over the Huawei Mate XT, and the design is much better than I expected
• The Moto G 2026 is a surprisingly great $199 phone, and it's now available with some crazy colors and materials in tow (including this ludicrous pink color)
• More Pixel 10a leaks suggest specs close to Google's last mid-range
• Samsung looks ready to commit to Qi2 with a full magnetic accessory lineup for the S26 series
• The Pixel 9 and 10 just got a useful feature to silence junk notifications
• Rumored 'Moto Tag 2' could be just the tracker Android users are looking for

Last week, I tested Google's Android XR prototypes, the Gemini-powered foundation for Samsung's 2026 AI glasses. And while Google director Juston Payne said these AI glasses will "help bring this category into existence," Meta brought smart glasses and XR into the mainstream first. So it's fair to speculate how Google and Samsung will crack Meta's AI glasses stranglehold.

We don't know how Warby Parker and Gentle Monster will design these glasses, nor do we have camera or battery specs yet. But the Android XR UI and apps felt polished and consumer-ready in my hour-long demo. I already know what it'll be like to use these glasses in daily life.

As a result, I expect the display-free Samsung glasses and Ray-Ban Meta glasses to have remarkably similar software, including "live" AI advice and translation. The mono-HUD glasses will, likewise, resemble the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, with their petite app widgets, turn-by-turn navigation, and other shared apps.

They're similar enough that people may end up choosing their smart glasses based on Warby Parker, Gentle Monster, or Ray-Ban/Oakley styles, not the AI behind it.

That said, I've already noticed three key differences that could help the Android XR smart glasses stand out and offer key advantages over what Meta offers. This doesn't mean these glasses will be better, as Meta has three generations of hardware experience that's paid off so far. But it proves that long-time Meta glasses wearers should be paying close attention.

Gemini has one key advantage over Meta AI: Apps

I'm not going to get into the Gemini vs. Llama debate. One, we're comparing conversational recognition and multimodal accuracy, which is harder to quantify than judging how well they code or generate images from prompts. Two, both frequently launch new AI models, and either could have improved significantly by 2026.

We've used multimodal Gemini Live on phones to keep plants alive and give home repair advice, so I expect that to carry over well to Samsung's glasses with an always-ready Gemini — though Meta has its own Live AI and handles image recognition well.

What I've specifically noticed about Gemini, while testing it on Wear OS, is how Google has integrated commands into its app library, connecting them so you can pull data from one app and seamlessly apply it to another. For example, pulling info from Messages or Maps and then creating a Keep note from the result.

This interconnectivity with other apps will let the HUD display a preview of your Nest Doorbell feed, Google TV controls, a pop-up of a Gmail subject line, and more. And it's not just for Google apps: the deep Android integration means any Gemini-compatible apps should be compatible. Meta supports the essential phone, messaging, music, and social apps, but Google could have an "ecosystem," at least on Android; iOS users could have a more specialized experience.

Google's photography expertise will be vital

When I reviewed the Ray-Ban Gen 2s and Oakley Meta Vanguards, I appreciated the high-res action photos captured with such petite sensors, as well as how well they stabilize videos, so I appear to slide forward rather than rock and bounce with every step. A lot of postprocessing goes into making this work.

My expectation is that Google and Samsung will handle computational photography at least as well as Meta. They both make some of the best camera phones, specializing in areas such as motion capture, AI-powered zoom, edge detection with targeted blurring, and more.

Of course, Samsung can't fit Ultra-quality sensors with zoom into glasses frames; "physics will get in the way," as Payne explained, particularly for low-light photos. But he thinks they can "push up to that level of quality," and I've seen how, for example, the Pixel 9a produced better photography than other mid-range phones despite its smaller, flatter sensors.

Taking photos on Ray-Ban Meta glasses is also challenging without a viewfinder, so you don't know how close to stand. But during my Android XR glasses demo, they showed a viewfinder function on a synced Pixel Watch, so you can check if your photo angle looks right in the moment, then either retake it or use Gemini to edit it.

The Android XR-Wear OS connection will be key

The Meta Ray-Ban Display really benefits from having an sEMG band that reads your hand's neural inputs, recognizing gestures without needing to see them on camera. I assumed it would be tough for Google and Samsung to match this feature.

It turns out that Android smartwatches will be compatible with Android XR, and gestures like pinches detected by your watch will trigger actions on your glasses. It may be one reason why Google added gesture support to Pixel Watches this month, so they'd be ready to handle this feature in 2026.

Gestures and the viewfinder are confirmed features, but I expect there will be an Android XR app that can add shortcuts, or an option to display Gemini answers as text on your wrist for the audio-only glasses. I'd also expect an option to hear your live workout stats over the glasses, similar to how the Oakley Vanguards read out Garmin stats.

Basically, because it's a full-fledged accessory instead of a specialized input device, there's more potential for interplay between Android glasses and watches. Until that long-rumored Meta Watch shows up, Android XR will have the wearable edge.

Competition is always better

I'm eagerly anticipating the new Samsung glasses, whatever they're called, next year. I actually wear (non-smart) Warby Parker glasses, and I'm curious whether they'll be able to create designs that look more natural for daily wear — though I don't know how well they'll match Ray-Ban and Oakley for sporty looks.

Ray-Ban & Oakley Meta fans may still end up sticking with the ecosystem and styles they know. What matters is that Meta hasn't had much smart glasses competition yet. With Google and Samsung pushing in to challenge its supremacy, that gives Meta more impetus to innovate and keep its sales lead.

What you need to know

• Google unveils exciting features for Galaxy XR headset during The Android Show: XR Edition.
• Introducing Project Aura by XReal, providing an immersive overlay experience for work and entertainment.
• New AI glasses and Developer Preview 3 announced to enhance user experiences in XR technology.

Google is wrapping up this year with some significant developments in its virtual reality space, which is being highlighted today during The Android Show: XR Edition. During the show, Google offered a glimpse into the progress it has made with its Android XR smartglasses, and also announced some new capabilities coming to Samsung's Galaxy XR headset starting today(Dec. 8).

Starting off with Galaxy XR's new tricks, which Google says are designed to "help you fully experience the spatial capabilities of Android XR and allow you to fit your headset naturally into the things you do every day."

With the Galaxy XR's new "PC Connect" ability, users will be able to expand their workspace beyond the desktop to the headset, then pull in their desktop or a window from their computer and place it side-by-side with native apps from Google Play. This feature is super cool for when you need a multi-screen view to get things done, or if you'd like a more spatial view of the game you've been playing on the PC.

Next up, Google is introducing "Travel mode," which is designed to transform any small area, such as a flight cabin, into an immersive workspace or personal home theater when you're stuck in the same space for several hours, allowing you to stay connected while on the go.

Speaking of work, the tech giant is also bringing "Likeness," a feature that will create a" realistic digital representation of your face that mirrors your facial expressions and hand gestures in real-time." This means that even though you're wearing the Galaxy XR headset, others will be able to see your reactions and expressions in real-time, making interactions feel more natural.

All of these features for the Galaxy XR Headset are currently in the Beta phase, and users can head to the Help center to get more information on how to try these tricks out.

Project Aura by XReal

Google is giving us the first look at Project Aura from XREAL, which is supposedly equipped with a 70-degree field of view and optical see-through technology. These glasses are said to overlay the digital content within your field of view, turning it into a massive screen for work or entertainment. For instance, giving you a "floating recipe video while you cook or seeing step-by-step visual guides anchored to an appliance you are fixing," all this without blocking off your surroundings. Ofcourse, all with the help of Gemini.

That said, these XReal smartglasses come wired and are synced to a phone-sized device with a trackpad that handles the computing, according to Android Central's Senior Editor Michael Hicks, who was able to demo these glasses. Google states that the glasses are set to launch sometime next year.

However, it is important to note that these XReal prototypes aren't the design that Samsung will use; Hicks says it'll be using Warby Parker and Gentle Monster designs, which will be compatible with both Android and iOS, and that they will be wireless.

Additionally, in a press release to Android Central, Google says it is currently working on two pairs of glasses. One being the screen-free AI glasses, which have in-built speakers, microphones, and cameras to allow you to talk to Gemini, take photos, and get help. The second, display AI glasses, which add a small screen to show private, helpful information when you need it, such as navigation or translation. The former is set to arrive next year.

Google is also releasing Developer Preview 3, giving developers to build new experiences for AI glasses and wired XR glasses.

Before the Android Show: XR Edition showcased Android XR's future, I enjoyed an hour-long private demo, testing three pairs of Android XR glasses: The monocular AI glasses first introduced at I/O 2025, a new binocular HUD prototype, and the XREAL Project Aura XR glasses.

My first Android XR glasses demo at I/O only lasted five minutes, scratching the surface with a few apps. This time, I used these single-HUD glasses for over 30 minutes, testing Gemini, Google Maps and Translate, YouTube Music, Uber, and other glasses-based apps.

Next, Google had me try a new binocular glasses prototype — meaning they use dual displays with a wider FoV and 3D depth capabilities. Then I tested XREAL Project Aura, photographed above, which uses the same UI and pinch gestures as Galaxy XR but with a lighter form factor and 70-degree FoV.

What to expect from Android XR glasses

Google's monocular prototype and Android XR software will serve as the foundation for Samsung's glasses hardware, which will launch next year with designs from Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. They'll also launch "screen-free" AI glasses in 2026, relying on speakers, mics, cameras, and Gemini smarts for an audio-led experience. They'll be a serious competitor to Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses.

The two-display version, by contrast, won't arrive until 2027 at the earliest. Juston Payne, Android XR's senior product director, explained that they still "weigh a little bit too much" for consumers, so Google will "wait until it's ready." I certainly felt the pinch on my nose, about on par with Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses.

The audio-only glasses will probably be the most affordable, thin, and popular. Payne said that Android XR pulls from years of audio-only tools created for Pixel Buds and Pixel accessibility tools like TalkBack, "leveraging what was already there."

I turned off the glasses HUD with a button tap and could still rely on Gemini smarts that I'd normally get on my Pixel Watch 4. Payne says he expects that "much of the usage" of these HUD glasses will be "with the display off," so using an audio-only version "isn't like a painful cut," Payne reassured me.

I didn't get a chance to photograph the prototypes, but the final versions won't look the same, anyway. What matters more is what I learned, both during the demo and behind the scenes, about what to expect from these new Samsung-made, Google-powered glasses, including how they'll sync with other Google devices and take advantage of Pixel camera expertise.

These smart glasses will work with iOS, but the Android integration is key

During my glasses prototype demo, they surprised me with the news that the eventual Samsung release will work on both Android and iOS. I assumed they'd make the same mistake as with the Galaxy Ring and make it Android-exclusive, but Google's team stressed that iPhone owners will want these enhanced Google app experiences, too.

Most of the features I demoed on Google's AI glasses — image recognition and recipe advice via cameras, automatic live translation, shared camera view during calls, local restaurant recs, turn-by-turn navigation with a minimap, or beamforming to differentiate between my voice and others — are also available on Meta's AI or HUD glasses.

Meta achieved this by combining its own apps and smarts with major partners, enabling its AI commands to trigger basic tools such as starting a playlist or calling a contact. While Google has direct Android system access, it clearly realized it can deliver a similar piecemeal experience on iPhones and vastly expand its potential audience.

Still, the Android experience should be the definitive one, with direct access to all Play Store apps instead of specific access to the Google Workspace suite and Gemini, plus partner apps. And they'll sync with other Android accessories.

When I took a photo with the glasses, a preview appeared on a Google rep's Pixel Watch. He said that other Wear OS watches, like Galaxy Watches, will integrate with Android XR so that gestures trigger certain actions — similar to how Meta uses its sEMG band for gesture controls.

Plus, on Android, the developer tools built for phones will carry over to the glasses. For example, if an app supports Live Update notifications, devs won't have to "do anything else" for glasses to show the same rich notifications, Payne says.

It's up to developers to decide whether to take advantage of the Android XR SDK and APIs to do more. Uber, for example, was "excited" by the Google Maps demo this May and decided to create a similar experience. During my demo, Google simulated a pick-up event; I could see an airport map to the pick-up zone by looking down, with a normal widget of my driver's details when looking ahead.

The main challenges that Google had to solve

I don't know what the Warby Parker and Gentle Monster designs will look like, but Payne promises that these Samsung Glasses will be "eyewear first," with both prescriptions and "sun tints" available, as well as "stylistic variety" so anyone can find a pair that matches their "preferences."

But their primary strategy to keep these glasses comfortable and stylish, according to Payne, is to "offload" as much computation as possible to the phone, enabling smaller batteries and thinner frames.

That's why they're not selling the two-display glasses in 2026; while they're "nowhere near as heavy as 70 or 80 grams," they're still above the "comfort threshold" that consumers will accept. But Payne seems to think they'll solve this hardware issue soon. It'll be exciting when they do, as weight aside, this prototype was more pleasurable to use, with a wider, centered field and depth added to certain apps — like 3D buildings in Google Maps.

Another smart glasses challenge that Google and Samsung will have to solve is camera quality. Meta glasses can capture high-resolution photos and stabilize videos, but they have limitations, especially in low-light photography, framing, and zoom.

Payne says Samsung is responsible for the cameras in the eventual consumer release, but it's a "tight partnership" with Google handling the post-processing and AI image-editing side of things. So I asked Payne what to expect.

Payne acknowledged readily that "physics will get in the way" of giving these glasses the same camera quality as a Pixel 10, because frames can't fit large sensors, but he's confident that Google's "computational photography investments" will help the glasses "push up to that level of quality." I also assume that tools like Magic Editor will help you remove the excess details around your subject.

On that note, when I told Payne that my current AI glasses don't always know which object in front of me I'm asking about, he promised that Gemini is good at "inferring" the subject, but suggested people can "point at" or hold something, and Gemini will use that context when answering.

XREAL Project Aura matters as much as Galaxy XR for Android XR's future

Despite a decade of Google Glass, VR headsets, and AR prototypes, Payne says that it's still "early days for XR overall," with 2026 as a "big year" because the upcoming AI and HUD glasses will be the first smart glasses with an "app ecosystem."

But if Android XR is to become the 'next large computing platform,' it can't just be the Samsung & Google show. Google will need it to be a proper open system, with more partners. And that starts with XREAL Project Aura becoming a success story.

When I tested XREAL Project Aura, it had the same onboarding experience as Galaxy XR, with an identical pinching tutorial and the same apps and Gemini integration. The performance was seamless, the FoV was much wider than on other smart glasses, and it still has the upside of syncing with a Switch or Steam Deck for gaming.

These glasses certainly have the potential to find an audience, but what happens after launch? Will Project Aura receive Android support and software updates at the same cadence as Galaxy XR? Or will it lag behind as Google prioritizes its biggest partner? We've seen this in recent years with Wear OS, as long-term partners like Fossil and Mobvoi have fallen behind and given up on smartwatches.

Hopefully, Android XR sticks to a more collaborative and supportive path, growing the smart glasses category even further.

What you need to know

• Google teases Android Show: XR Edition livestreaming on December 8 to discuss the future of XR technology.
• Gemini integration in Galaxy XR enhances user experience with interactive features and real-world search capabilities.
• We're hoping to see the "Memory feature" for location tracking of personal items using XR devices.

Google seems to be ringing in the holidays on a great note! It just silently dropped a teaser of the "Android Show: XR Edition" showcasing two Android bots wearing the Galaxy XR headset and the rumoured XR smart glasses.

The show is set to be livestreamed on December 8, where Google will talk all about the "Future of Android XR." During the show, the tech giant is expected to discuss "all things XR across glasses, headsets, and everything in between." Which seems exciting since the Galaxy XR headset just launched in October, and now we may get a glimpse at the progress Google and Android have made on smartglasses—and we aren't complaining! The tease does showcase the bot wearing glasses with a tiny lens on one side.

Additionally, Google says that we will get to "Hear how with Gemini by your side, you can have a more conversational, contextual, and helpful experience," all within the 30-minute show. A dedicated teaser page was also spotted by 9to5Google, which allows you to set a reminder for the show, asking enthusiasts to "Mark their calendars to learn about the latest XR innovations and experiences at The Android Show," much like the YouTube teaser, which also features a "notify me" button.

Galaxy XR is already loaded with so much of Gemini, including Gemini Live, including the real-world search experience that comes with Circle to Search, and the immersive view in Google Maps that basically makes you feel that you're exploring a new touristy spot right from the comfort of your couch. Gemini also offers route suggestions and personalized information, or historical facts based on what you're looking at.

While the future of XR is still a mystery, we'd definitely like to see the Memory feature that Google showed us at I/O earlier this year, where Gemini will use the cameras on the XR devices to log the location of real-world items. You could later ask, "Hey Gemini, where did I leave my keys?" and it would show you where it last saw them.

So if you're as excited as we are about this end-of-the-year reveal, then go ahead and hit the "notify me" button to watch the action unfold in real time.

What you need to know

• Samsung's upcoming smart glasses, model SM-O200P, feature transition lenses and built-in camera capabilities.
• The device lacks a mobile data connection but supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
• Previous leaks suggest the glasses may utilize a 12MP camera and a Qualcomm chipset.

Samsung has officially set foot into the XR scene with the launch of its Galaxy XR headset, and as we know from previous rumors, the Korean OEM is also working on a pair of XR glasses under the codename "HAEAN."

According to a recent report from Galaxy Club, initial technical details about these smart glasses have surfaced. The publication notes that details of the smartglasses "landed on our desk," and bear the model number SM-O200P.

The website added that the Samsung XR glasses include transition lenses that adapt their tint according to ambient light. It is currently unknown whether the glasses actively project information onto these transition lenses. Furthermore, these smartglasses could be equipped with a built-in camera, and connectivity to a phone is established via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as the glasses lack their own mobile data capability.

The Android XR glasses prototype was shown off a few months ago at a TED Talk event. More recently, during Samsung's Galaxy XR launch, Samsung also gave us more details about its upcoming XR smartglasses, which are being created with its partnership with Google, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker.

Samsung's Gentle Monster AI glasses will "bring stylish, fashion-forward eyewear that blends cutting-edge Al-native technology with cultural influence and design leadership," Samsung said during its XR headset launch.

It is also claimed that these glasses could carry a Qualcomm chipset, and an NXP chip will be used as the auxiliary processing unit. The device could allegedly have a 12 MP camera with a Sony IMX681 CMOS image sensor. SamMobile indicated that these mixed reality glasses will have a "155mAh battery, Google's Gemini LLM will be installed on the device to provide AI features."

Considering that they are expected to be heavily loaded with Gemini, it will allow users to control the glasses using only their voice, as we saw during the demo at Google I/O this year. As for when the glasses might see the light of day seems unknown; however, the website notes that a version of the glasses is being produced for the US market, meaning they would definitely be pitted against Meta's new smartglasses lineup.

Looking for something listen to during your commute? Then we've got the podcast for you! I sat down with 9to5Google's Will Sattelberg this past week to discuss the launch of Android XR, the Galaxy XR, and everything those products mean for the future of XR on the November 3, 2025 edition of The Sideload podcast.

When Will asked me to be a guest on the show, I knew there was no way I could turn it down. We've been covering the Samsung Galaxy XR in depth at Android Central since before the launch, getting our hands on the elusive headset three times before it went to retail.

I also write a weekly XR-centric column called AC thVRsday that goes live on, you guessed it, Thursdays. If you're not familiar with the term XR, it stands for eXtended Reality and covers the gamut of AR and VR devices. That's everything from smart glasses like Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses to full-fledged, premium VR headsets like Samsung's newly launched Galaxy XR.

If you're looking for something specific, Will was kind enough to list out the timestamps for all the major topics:

• 00:00:00 – Intro
• 00:01:02 – Nick’s VR experience
• 00:10:04 – Galaxy VR
• 00:23:20 – Samsung’s current-gen rivals
• 00:35:32 – Where VR excels
• 00:48:03 – Smart glasses
• 01:06:48 – Laser Dance
• 01:11:16 – Wrap-up

Google's Android XR is a brand new version of Android built specifically for XR devices, and while the Galaxy XR mixed reality headset is the first Android XR device to market, we're expecting a treasure trove of smart glasses to use the operating system next year.

That includes companies like Samsung and Xreal, who are expected to debut a wide range of products including display-less AI glasses and even full-fledged AR glasses. What are your thoughts on XR, as a whole? Are you excited about smart glasses, can't wait to get a top-notch VR headset, or have another opinion? Let us know! We'd love to hear it.

When I got my iPhone 17 Pro Max a few weeks ago, I couldn't wait to tear open the box. No, that's not because I love using iPhones — quite the opposite, really. It was because I couldn't wait to test out the spatial photo and video capture that comes built-in to the phone's camera app.

You see, when Apple launched the Vision Pro in 2024, it understood that most people with a Vision Pro wouldn't wear them on their heads 24/7 and, therefore, wouldn't use its powerful spatial cameras to capture everyday memories. That type of experience is reserved for the phones in our pockets, and recent iPhone models can capture this kind of content.

On the Android side of things, the only way to capture spatial photos or video is to buy an Xreal Beam Pro. This neat little gadget is perfect when paired with a pair of Xreal One glasses, and it's also perfect for capturing spatial photos and video of any kind throughout your day. The obvious problem is that it's a second device you'd have to remember to charge and take with you at all times, and that's just not realistic for most people.

A spatial future

Last month, Google and Samsung launched the new Android XR operating system alongside the Samsung Galaxy XR headset, ushering in a new era for VR headsets. The new OS can run all Android apps in VR space, making it the best new XR operating system and outpacing both Meta and Apple in this particular metric.

Galaxy XR is an entertainment powerhouse, and one of the pillars Google touts of this experience is the ability to view 3D — better known as "spatial" these days — photos and video right in the headset. The problem is that no modern Android phone can record 3D photos or videos, just the ancient EVO 3D and, of course, the Xreal Beam Pro sidekick device.

Google attempted to solve this problem through the magic of AI by automatically converting existing 2D photos and videos to 3D, but the end result isn't quite as good as if it were captured natively with a binocular phone camera system.

Meta introduced a similar feature back in May, which includes automatically converting Instagram content to 3D as you scroll. The effect is quite impressive, although again, it's not quite as good as if you were watching native 3D or spatial content.

For that, you'll need an iPhone 15, 16, or newer iPhone 17. Not only do these phones capture spatial photos and video impressively well, but the Meta Horizon app makes it dead simple to import them onto your Meta Quest headset.

To do this, open the Meta Horizon app on your iPhone, select the menu button in the top-left corner, tap gallery, then click the upload button in the top right. Once you give the app access to your camera roll, you can slide over to the Spatial tab and easily select any spatial photos and videos you've captured on your iPhone.

On the Android side of things, the instructions are the same, but there's no Spatial tab to be seen. Even on the Xreal Beam Pro, I don't have a Spatial option, as the app doesn't recognize the 3D side-by-side content the device captures as "spatial" photos or video. Rather, it thinks these are panoramas, and that's reflected in the in-headset experience.

Now, I can load a gallery app on the Meta Quest that allows me to view side-by-side photos as 3D images, but I have no way of natively viewing them with the built-in gallery app or uploading 3D video natively through the Meta Horizon app. That all seems to be locked to iOS because of Apple's official spatial capture standard.

Another green bubble for Android

This is where Google needs to catch up. Without a properly supported standard, Android users are effectively stuck in "green bubble land" again, just using a different subject matter. At the very least, Samsung introduced a hidden feature in its Camera Assistant app that lets you capture 3D pictures and video specifically for Galaxy XR, but I don't understand why Samsung wants to hide it so badly. This should be a standard mode or feature on all Samsung phones.

The worst part is that Samsung has already one-upped Apple by offering users high-quality selections for 3D video and photos. Even better, the Galaxy S25 Ultra can capture 4K spatial video, while even the mighty iPhone 17 Pro Max tops out at 1080p. Again, why hide such a fantastic feature? I just don't get it.

The images I captured using this feature on a Galaxy S25 Ultra upload just fine to the Meta Quest app, but videos aren't selectable at all yet. That one's on Meta, but it still shows that Android users have to jump through unnecessary hoops to get a second-rate experience compared to how things are on an iPhone, and I hate that.

What you need to know

• Samsung plans to expand its Galaxy XR headset globally beyond South Korea and the U.S. next year.
• The Galaxy XR will reportedly launch in Germany, France, Canada, and the UK in 2026.
• Samsung is following a slow rollout strategy similar to Apple's Vision Pro global expansion.

Samsung's first-ever Android XR headset, the Galaxy XR, is currently available only in a few select countries. However, according to a report, Samsung is planning a global expansion for its Apple Vision Pro competitor, with more countries joining the list next year.

At present, Samsung's Galaxy XR is available only in its home country, South Korea, and in the U.S. Other regions, such as Europe and parts of Asia, were missing from Samsung's list of available markets when the headset launched. A new report, however, from SamMobile claims that Samsung plans to launch the Galaxy XR in four additional countries in 2026.

According to the report, the next countries in line to get the Galaxy XR headset will be Germany, France, Canada, and the UK. The report does caution that the "list may not be final," and Samsung could add or remove countries as production of the headset expands and more mixed reality apps become available.

Samsung plans wider Galaxy XR rollout in 2026

Like the Apple Vision Pro, Samsung appears to be taking a gradual approach with the Galaxy XR headset. Apple's headset also launched only in the U.S. initially before its global rollout, and now Samsung seems to be following a similar strategy.

Even though the Galaxy XR costs almost half as much as the Apple Vision Pro at $1,800, given the limited demand for such products out there, Samsung seems to be taking a cautious approach.

That said, the Galaxy XR is the first Android XR headset to officially reach the market. It's powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, and thanks to its ultra-high-resolution displays and Android XR platform, it can run nearly any Android app in real space with floating windows and multitasking support.

It's a great device not only for streaming videos and content but also as a solid replacement for monitors and TVs, thanks to its ultra-high-resolution displays, as noted by our own Nicholas Sutrich.

Samsung's Galaxy XR is the hot new VR headset in town, seamlessly blending the real and virtual worlds into a compelling XR space. But this headset isn't some boring old PC VR headset that you need a computer to operate. It's a fully standalone computer that you can comfortably wear for hours at a time, and that's why it's replacing my main workstation setup this year.

That might sound crazy, but there's something spectacularly amazing about being able to put my monitors anywhere I want without setting up mounting hardware. Not only that, but they can be resized and reshaped, so I can have an ultra-ultra-ultrawide monitor, a tall monitor, or even a square monitor if I really wanted to.

This same concept applies to any Android app you want to run on the headset. If you've used a Galaxy Z Fold 7, you'll already be familiar with how app window resizing works. Since the Galaxy XR runs on Android XR, a new version of Android specifically designed for XR devices, it can also run all Google Play apps without developers specifically needing to build an app for the headset.

That's a massive improvement over every other VR or XR headset on the market and it also means that I can seamlessly run Android apps alongside the monitors for my Windows 11 laptop without skipping a beat. Since I'm knee-deep in the Google ecosystem, this means all my devices can tie into my Galaxy XR experience without me having to fiddle around.

Folks using a Galaxy XR to work on their PCs have two main options: use a Samsung GalaxyBook, which has built-in hooks to connect to Galaxy XR, or download the Virtual Desktop app from the Google Play Store. Virtual Desktop has been my preferred PC-to-VR connection software for years and it works on any platform you want to use, from PCs to Macs, and even different wireless VR headsets.

Samsung specifically worked with the developer of Virtual Desktop to ensure the highest quality "Monster" resolution and bitrate were available from day-one on Galaxy XR. If you've got a Wi-Fi 7 router, that experience will be even better thanks to the ultra-high bandwidth and low latency of these next-gen networking powerhouses.

The app supports up to 3 virtual monitors streaming from your PC, all of which are resizable and scalable as I previously noted. Virtual Desktop can also be used to easily play SteamVR games on your PC, adding one more feather to its proverbial hat.

Since these virtual monitors simply "float" in real space, I can sit anywhere I'd like and still have my full desk setup. That means at my dining room table, on my couch, on a plane, in an airport, a hotel, or even my in-laws house. That's a powerful way to work, especially if you have the freedom of working remotely.

On the entertainment side of things, I'm a huge proponent for portable devices. I got rid of my gaming PC years ago for a Steam Deck, and I primarily play console games on systems like the Nintendo Switch 2 since I can undock it and play anywhere I want.

Galaxy XR provides the same level of freedom with a metric ton of available content. Not only do you get access to every game in the Google Play Store, but you also have access to the best streaming services like GeForce Now, Xbox Game Pass, and more. There are even apps to stream your home consoles — like a PS5 — to the headset.

And while I love a good handheld gaming console, this experience trumps that one since you don't have to look down at a device or hold it up for long periods of time, alleviating a common source of strain during long gaming sessions. That screen can be placed anywhere you want and it never has to be held up. It's a win-win!

None of this would even be worthwhile without a good display or comfortable build but, thankfully, Galaxy XR has those angles covered, too. The design is made to keep all the weight off your face, ensuring that your cheeks don't feel heavy after just a few minutes and that it's easy to eat and drink while wearing the headset. You probably didn't think about that part until just now, but it's a problem the Galaxy XR's open side design solves.

With the highest-resolution micro-OLED displays on any wireless headset to date, the 29 million pixels of self-emissive glory will light up your content with the deep contrast and colors OLED is known for. Plus, at 90Hz, everything will be buttery smooth.

I'm not much of a TV watcher, but I know that the plethora of options for streaming and video services on Android will also ensure this is an excellent replacement for any TV, especially since you can take it with you. That theater you see above isn't real; it's a virtual theater from the Virtual Desktop app, and it makes immersive watching a ridulously impressive experience.

Imagine having the best display you've probably ever seen with you anywhere you go, with the ability to run all your favorite apps and services on it when you want it. That's Galaxy XR.

Before I tested Galaxy XR in New York, I suspected Samsung would ignore gaming and focus on making it a "serious" XR device. But after Samsung reps showed off Stardew Valley, No Man's Sky, and traditional VR games on the headset, I was intrigued. And the more I've learned about the headset, the more convinced I am that it's a genuine, unique gaming device I'd love to use.

VR fans will find a decent list of Android XR launch titles, with some personal faves like Walkabout Mini Golf, Synth Riders, and Demeo, plus some workout titles like FitXR to turn Galaxy XR into an immersive gym. It supports Unity and the OpenXR standard most VR games use, so I'm certain the list will grow quickly.

But as gorgeous as these games will look on a Micro-OLED, 3,552 x 3,840 resolution display, that alone wouldn't get me to spend the $1,799 to get a Galaxy XR. It's the combination of XR games, Android app support, wireless PC connectivity, multitasking UI, and wide field of view (FoV) that could turn Galaxy XR into a premium gaming monitor and accessory rolled into one device.

Galaxy XR is designed for multitasking gamers like me

Gamers buy Android handheld consoles because they enjoy Android games like COD: Mobile, Genshin Impact, or Roblox on a larger display with better controls and max graphics. Galaxy XR dials that concept up to 11, with virtual, TV-sized displays, flagship-level performance, and Bluetooth compatibility with most controllers.

The powerful Snapdragon chip with 16GB of RAM is overkill for most mobile games, but Galaxy XR's secret weapon is its boundary-free space for multitasking. During several gaming demos, Samsung paired games with other demanding apps like Google Meet for online multiplayer chat, YouTube for walkthroughs, Gemini for gameplay advice, or a music app for ambience.

PC gamers can accomplish this multitasking effect with multiple monitors and a powerful rig. Galaxy XR recreates this effect, except you can stack windows vertically so it's easier to keep both in your vision at once, or use more than two windows. And you can play it anywhere, including in bed.

I like to keep my brain occupied while gaming, but I'm typically restricted to audio-only options like a podcast. With Galaxy XR, I could arrange more content to fit in my direct vision as I play. I could see myself enjoying a basketball livestream while playing a sandbox game where I don't need to react quickly, flitting my gaze between them. Or if I'm playing a more active game, I could binge a TV show I've seen before in a smaller window, so I'm only partially paying attention.

I also have occasional online multiplayer sessions with old friends, during which we normally use Discord for audio; if, instead, I could video-call with them and see them in my peripheral vision, it would feel more like the old days where we played games in one room.

Galaxy XR goes beyond Android gaming

Since all Android apps are supported, you can stream games on GeForce Now, Xbox Game Pass, or PS Remote Play, giving you access to a wider range of titles. I only wish Google would bring back Stadia, which would be the perfect fit for this headset.

If cloud gaming uses too much bandwidth, Galaxy XR can sync wirelessly with your PC using the "Game Link" feature, unlocking your full Steam library of normal and PC VR titles at up to a respectable 90Hz — impressive given the 29 million pixels the headset has to refresh constantly.

An alternative option is the Virtual Desktop app, which pairs with your PC for work or play, and can take the headset's native eye, face, and hand tracking and pass it onto social VR games like VRChat.

Early Galaxy XR adopters have already started playing beloved titles like Half-Life: Alyx on the headset, with no wire to the PC required. And it's particularly cool that Galaxy XR supports Wi-Fi 7, reducing any latency between your PC and headset. Even though PC VR is a fairly niche ecosystem, I think Galaxy XR will certainly appeal to that crowd on the strength of its hardware.

Will Gemini help the Galaxy XR experience?

During the Galaxy XR demo, a Samsung rep shared his No Man's Sky gameplay window and asked Gemini how to accomplish his next task; the assistant answered with controls and walkthrough advice. It then gave suggestions on what he could do next on that alien world, when asked.

I'm not sure how well Gemini's multimodal software can interpret gameplay beyond the basics, yet, but it's an intriguing use case, one that could lead to real-time "coaching" in the distant future. For now, you can use Circle to Search to highlight something in-game and ask Gemini about it, which might be fun for a historical title like Assassin's Creed.

Overall, I think that Galaxy XR could be an excellent gaming device, and I'm looking forward to putting it through its paces. Unfortunately, the Galaxy XR controllers sold out immediately, proving how many early adopters agree that it has potential. But since a lot of my potential gaming use cases involve traditional 2D gaming in a virtual space, I don't mind using my current Bluetooth controllers (or hand tracking) until they become available.

Based on my early testing, it's lightweight enough that I can see myself playing with it for hours, the visual fidelity is gorgeous, passthrough stops me from feeling isolated, and the UI to move windows around is seamless. Whether or not Galaxy XR lives up to its $1,799 price tag for you, it's worth taking seriously as a gamer, particularly for PC VR.

Samsung Galaxy XR is the newest premium XR headset on the block, merging the virtual and real worlds in a way that feels almost magical, thanks to a bevy of external cameras and ultra-high-resolution OLED displays. In many ways, it looks a lot like what the Meta Quest Pro should have been.

Things are even better when you realize it's powered by the brand-new Android XR operating system, which lets you run all your favorite Android apps in 3D virtual windows. That means you don't have to worry about which apps are made specifically for the headset; just find all your favorites on the Google Play Store and do what you love!

On the flipside, the Galaxy XR isn't sold as a gaming console the way the Meta Quest is, despite the optional controllers selling out in no time flat. It can play games, for sure — and we'll talk about that below — but it's primarily for productivity and other forms of entertainment, a la Apple Vision Pro. Which one is right for you? Let's find out.

Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Looks and basics

While both the Samsung Galaxy XR and the Meta Quest 3 are mixed reality headsets, they each look and fit quite differently. The Meta Quest 3 is mainly designed to fit cost restraints, so it can be under $500. That includes shipping with a relatively uncomfortable cloth strap for your head and an all-plastic design.

Samsung Galaxy XR, previously known as Project Moohan, has a far more premium look and feel. While some parts are plastic to keep weight down, it looks a lot more like a Meta Quest Pro than a Meta Quest 3. This includes rigid side straps with a wheel on the back for quickly adjusting size, a large, plush pad for the back of your head, and another large plush pad for your forehead.

Unlike the Meta Quest 3, Galaxy XR doesn't put any weight on your face at all. The rubber light blockers are included in the box and magnetically removable, so you'll feel no pressure on your face while wearing the headset for long periods of time.

The Meta Quest 3's default cloth strap distributes weight on your face and around the sides and back of your head. Some people, like me, find this to be uncomfortable and end up buying a third-party head strap along with several other Meta Quest 3 accessories to make it more comfortable to wear.

While this sounds like a negative at first, Meta's "modular" design of the Quest 3 means you can take all the important parts off — the head strap, the face pad, etc — and replace them with ones you find more comfortable.

When I work while wearing a Quest 3, I use a Kiwi Design H4 Boost head strap and remove the face pad so the headset's weight isn't resting on my face. Otherwise, when I'm gaming with a Quest 3, I keep the face pad on to provide maximum immersion.

Galaxy XR isn't explicitly designed to be a modular headset in the same way, but that's not stopping some VR accessory makers from trying to modularize it as much as possible.

Galaxy XR is powered by a separate battery pack that's attached via a cord on the left side, while the Meta Quest 3 features the battery in the front of the headset with the lenses and all other electronics. Both headsets can be used while their batteries are in use, so extending usage time is as easy as getting a USB-C battery bank or Meta Quest 3 accessories.

The Samsung Galaxy XR features automatic IPD adjustment thanks to its eye-tracking capabilities, ensuring each user has the exact right eye-distance calibration the moment they put the headset on. That's a huge advantage for Samsung over any Meta-branded headset, which all require manual IPD adjustment.

Some headsets, like the PlayStation VR2, will help you choose the right IPD by using eye tracking to display an image you can line up. The Meta Quest 3, like most other VR headsets, requires you to know your IPD ahead of time. Adjusting it on a Quest 3 is easy and can be done via the IPD wheel on the underside of the headset, but you still need to know the right number before using it.

Both headsets feature crystal-clear pancake lenses with a wide FoV. Galaxy XR uses a 109-degree horizontal FoV, while the Meta Quest 3 has an indistinguishably wider 110-degree horizontal FoV.

The Meta Quest 3 ships with two motion controllers — one is held in each hand — and also supports controller-free hand tracking for more effortless interactions. Each of these controllers features a joystick, three face buttons, a trigger, and a grip button.

Samsung Galaxy XR has controllers that look extremely similar to the Meta Quest 3's controllers, including LED-based tracking without an external tracking ring. Unfortunately, Samsung doesn't ship Galaxy XR with controllers, so you'll have to pay $250 extra to get these.

Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Software and OS

Meta Horizon OS, the operating system that powers Meta Quest Headsets, is built upon Android and always has been. Similarly, Android XR, which powers Galaxy XR, is also a specific version of Android built for XR devices. While they sound similar on the surface, there are some key differences to consider.

While both are based on the Android Open Source Project, Meta Horizon OS features significant layers of customization that Meta has built over the past decade. Meta has built so much on top of Android that it actually packages it as a "separate" operating system, calling it Meta Horizon OS, and now offers it as an option for third-party companies to build their own headsets on.

Meta Horizon OS not only revolves around the "Meta Horizon experience," which includes promoting the Meta Horizon metaverse app front and center, but also ties Meta services deeply into the OS. Apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Facebook, and Instagram all have native Horizon OS apps, and while a few other apps can be downloaded on the app store, Meta Quest headsets are still mainly gaming consoles with some extra computing functionality.

Android XR is built upon the Android Open Source Project as well but, like most builds of Android, Google services are at the center. Google said Android XR is "the first version of Android built for the Gemini era," which means Google Gemini is able to operate the entire experience if you ask it to.

Gemini can see what you see, including both the virtual and real world, and is able to answer questions and interact with virtual screens as you see fit. This opens up significant new design and interaction paradigms that we simply haven't seen before. One excellent example of this paradigm shift is using Circle to Search while playing Half-Life: Alyx on a Galaxy XR to translate in-game signs.

Both operating systems support native multitasking, giving users the ability to open multiple windows at once and float them anywhere in real 3D space. You can think of these a bit like resizable virtual monitors that you can place anywhere, all of which are able to be interacted with like a smartphone or tablet interface.

Samsung impressed us with the launch of Galaxy XR for many reasons, but the most surprising was the announcement that all Google Play apps work on the headset from day one. That means developers don't need to do anything extra to get their apps in XR, although they can choose to build new XR-specific versions for the headset.

That's a massive leg-up on Meta, which has struggled to get developers to port apps to its Meta Horizon OS. While there are a handful of 2D apps on the Meta Quest — mostly communication apps — Galaxy XR can run any app your Android-based smartphone or tablet can run. That's an incredible boon for everyday use and ensures Galaxy XR is the ultimate XR productivity device.

If you want to learn more about how both operating systems compare, see our detailed Android XR vs Meta Horizon OS comparison.

Samsung XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Performance and specs

Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets power the Meta Quest 3 and Samsung Galaxy XR, but Galaxy XR features the more powerful Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2. This new chipset allows Samsung to include higher-resolution cameras and displays on Galaxy XR while sporting at least the same general performance profile.

Neither are "laptop-grade" chips like what's included in the Apple Vision Pro, but both chips are very capable and are roughly comparable in performance to a 2023 flagship smartphone, with significant customizations to account for the extra processing needed for space tracking and motion tracking.

Both headsets use pancake lenses, but the Samsung Galaxy XR builds eye tracking into the lenses. This will enable Samsung to achieve even better performance thanks to a feature called foveated rendering. This technology allows the headset to render the highest resolution at the center of your vision while saving processing power by lowering the resolution outside of that.

Meta supports fixed foveated rendering, which attempts to recreate the same concept without eye tracking. While it enhances performance, it produces lower resolution outside the lens center and reduces visual quality in those areas.

Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Which is better?

Considering the massive price gulf between the two, the Meta Quest 3 is the best choice for most people looking to get an XR headset. It offers a library of thousands of games, controllers included in the box, and a 3rd party accessory ecosystem that rivals the best consoles.

But the Samsung Galaxy XR is the better choice for folks looking to use their headsets for movies and entertainment or productivity. Every Android app works on Galaxy XR out of the box, while there are very few Android apps on the Meta Quest 3. You can always sideload any Android APK to a Meta Quest 3, but without the official Google Play Store built in, you'll quickly run into limitations.

PC VR players looking for the most premium experience possible should also consider the Galaxy XR, as it features eye, face, and hand tracking that are all passed to your PC games via software like Virtual Desktop. Plus, with ultra-high resolution displays, your games will look top-notch. Galaxy XR is the most premium experience you'll find today in XR, but you'll pay a pretty penny for it.

This past week, Samsung and Google launched the Android XR platform on the Galaxy XR headset. This powerful combination shows us what Google's dedicated XR platform is capable of on a mixed reality headset, but how about a pair of smart glasses?

If you haven't heard yet, Android XR is a versatile new version of Android that works on a wide variety of XR devices, ranging from powerful VR headsets to lightweight AI-powered smart glasses. So far, we only have one product on the market that uses the OS, but we know a lot more are coming, and the next big wave is going to be in a smart glasses form factor.

Samsung told us that it would be building the Google smart glasses co-branded with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, a revelation that wasn't clear when we first tried these smart glasses at Google I/O 2025. Knowing that Samsung is behind all of the hardware that's been seen so far helps paint a clearer picture of what to expect when the first products land sometime in 2026.

What they will be

The glasses you see above are Magic Leap's first prototype Android XR-powered smart glasses, showcased at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 29, 2025. They look similar to the ones developed by Samsung that were showcased at Google I/O 2025 and will undoubtedly be among the most popular smart glasses form factors going forward.

These smart glasses feature a display in one lens, similar to Meta's Ray-Ban Display Glasses. This display uses a holographic waveguide that's visible to the glasses wearer but not to anyone looking from the outside. They have a limited field of view and are primarily used to display notifications, turn-by-turn directions, music playback controls, and other features you might be accustomed to seeing on a smartwatch.

So far, Google has only shown off glasses that use Gemini voice controls to navigate on the device. That means you need to say "Hey, Google" any time you want to do anything on the glasses. It's a great way to interact while driving or when both of your hands are busy, but it's not ideal for any situation with lots of background noise or when you need to be quiet.

Cameras mounted on each side can capture photos and record video, giving you a hands-free camera that can be activated in a split second. That can be particularly useful when you're trying to capture something funny your kids or pets are doing, for instance, while a phone takes much longer to pull out of your pocket, launch the camera, and hit record.

Samsung's glasses will almost certainly be entirely reliant on your phone, similar to a Bluetooth-only smartwatch. The glasses will have some local functionality — capturing photos and video, and maybe locally stored music playback — but they aren't designed to replace your phone. At best, I expect them to be priced slightly lower than Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses, since they won't be able to do as much with voice-only input.

Essentially, I expect these glasses to operate almost identically to Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2, albeit with a display that can visually show you Gemini's feedback and notifications. That visual component could make all the difference to some people, though, as even a camera viewfinder on the display could make it significantly easier to frame your photo or video like you want.

And I also expect Samsung to launch glasses without this in-lens display, allowing for more affordable options.

What it won't be

The screenshot you see above is what I saw when demoing Meta Orion at Meta Connect 2024. Meta Orion is a pair of smart glasses that feels more like a full "face computer" in a compact form factor. In essence, it's a VR headset without the bulk or immersive mode.

Samsung's smart glasses will not be a Meta Orion competitor. Not yet, at least. They won't replace your phone, and they likely won't play games or do anything more than you might use your smartwatch for. They're effectively a nice wearable camera with an AI assistant attached that can also make phone calls and display notifications. A way to stop looking at your phone so darn often.

Warby Parker and Gentle Monster smart glasses made by Samsung almost certainly won't have the ability to track the space around you like a VR headset (or Meta Orion) can, meaning they won't be able to use that in-lens display to overlay virtual imagery on the real world. There's also no evidence showing that Google or Samsung has any sort of input device like the Meta Neural Band. This is a voice-only experience.

Because of this, they also won't be terribly expensive. Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses are only $799 because they cut out a lot of the uber-expensive components that make Meta Orion as capable as it is, and the inclusion of the Meta Neural Band in the box only adds to that cost. If I'm being hopeful, Samsung's display glasses should come in at less than $799.

If we've learned anything about Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, smart glasses without a display likely won't cost much more than a standard pair of designer-brand frames with lenses, making them a reasonable option for glasses wearers who want more out of their daily specs.

Despite both of these types of glasses running Android XR, I don't expect to see them running full Android apps. Almost certainly, Android XR on smart glasses will operate like a cut-down version of Wear OS, relying on companion apps or smartphone app connectivity to do all the heavy lifting.

Even without full apps running on the display, I can guarantee these will still be an impressive experience that'll augment your everyday life. Whether that's being a tourist and asking Gemini about what you're seeing in a foreign country (see the above image), or asking it how to improve your golf swing, there's a very real reason these will become the next big thing in tech.

That's going to be especially true if Google and Samsung end up getting the "remember" feature from demos working on the final product. No matter what, we're likely only a few months away from them landing, and it's going to be great to see this space quickly improve and iterate the way we saw smartwatches evolve over a decade ago.

FAQ

What you need to know

• Google and Magic Leap are continuing their partnership to build Android XR smart glasses.
• Magic Leap will build prototype and reference designs for Android XR glasses.
• The two companies are combining display technologies in an effort to make glasses that are both stylish and functional.

Magic Leap, a leader in augmented reality (AR) optics and displays, first partnered with Google in 2024. Now, the company is showing off a prototype and reference design for Android XR glasses at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) event. It also announced a deal to extend the partnership between Magic Leap and Google for three years.

The event provided our first look at Android XR smart glasses since Google I/O, where the AR glasses were demoed. The reference glasses use Google’s Raxium microLED light engine and Magic Leap's waveguides and optics technology to provide crisp in-lens visuals.

It's unclear whether Magic Leap or Google would ever release these Android XR smart glasses. For now, they're prototype and reference glasses that serve as a launching pad for other manufacturers. However, Magic Leap said it is becoming "an AR ecosystem partner" with Google, which could leave the door open for future consumer products.

"Magic Leap's optics, display systems, and hardware expertise have been essential to advancing our Android XR glasses concepts to life," said Shahram Izadi, who is the vice president of Google XR. "We're fortunate to collaborate with a team whose years of hands-on AR development uniquely set them up to help shape what comes next."

Magic Leap says it's also working with other partners to create AR glasses based on its current concept designs.

A glimpse into the future of Android XR glasses

It's hard to tell how these reference Android XR glasses might compare to what we saw at Google I/O based on the on-stage demonstrations. It's even trickier to gauge how they might stack up against Meta Ray-Ban Display, the smart glasses that recently made AR glasses with a waveguide display available to consumers. With that being said, it's clear that Google's partnerships with Gentle Monster, Warby Parker, and now Magic Leap prioritize design, style, and display quality.

"What makes this prototype stand out is how natural it feels to look through," Izadi added. "Magic Leap's precision in optics and waveguide design gives the display a level of clarity and stability that’s rare in AR today. That consistency is what makes it possible to seamlessly blend physical and digital vision, so users' eyes stay relaxed and the experience feels comfortable."

Android XR is progressing rapidly, with Samsung confirming this month it is working with Google, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker to build smart glasses that might challenge Meta.

The Android XR era is officially here with the debut of Samsung Galaxy XR, the company's first headset developed in collaboration with Google. It's the natural rival to Apple Vision Pro, the innovative, but generally unsuccessful, VR headset priced at a whopping $3,500. It looks like Samsung used Vision Pro as a baseline for Galaxy XR — the headset nearly matches Apple's offering spec-for-spec, even besting it in some categories.

Samsung priced the Galaxy XR at $1,800, almost exactly half the price of the Vision Pro. Naturally, that makes the Samsung Galaxy XR a bit easier for tech enthusiasts to justify. Both are still firmly early-adopter products, regardless, but which one is best? Let's compare all the features and differences between Galaxy XR and Vision Pro.

Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Apple Vision Pro: Design and displays

Samsung took notes from the VR headsets that predated the Galaxy XR, and it paid off. Instead of trying to copy one headset, the company picked the best features from Meta Quest Pro and Apple Vision Pro in designing Galaxy XR. The end result is a headset with a striking appearance and the ability to be used with or without light blockers.

By comparison, Vision Pro is designed to be used with its light seal all the time. There are no first-party options for Vision Pro open facial interfaces. If you get creative, third-party accessories and 3D print files can fill the gap. Either way, Vision Pro isn't designed to be used without light seals like Galaxy XR.

Vision Pro uses a cloth strap, and there are multiple first and third-party straps available. Samsung took a different approach with Galaxy XR, using a rigid strap for better weight distribution and stability.

Apple may have solved its cloth strap issues with a new Dual Knit Band with counterweights for stability, but Samsung's strap design has other benefits. It houses a USB-C port separate from the battery connector for accessory connection.

Both Apple Vision Pro and Samsung Galaxy XR have impressive, industry-leading micro-OLED displays. Samsung has a slight edge in quality, with a 3,552 x 3,840 resolution and 96% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

Apple still offers a resolution of 4K per eye, but only 23 million pixels, compared to Samsung's 29 million. Vision Pro does have the edge in refresh rate, with the latest model topping out at 120Hz. Galaxy XR can only hit 90Hz, and the default setting is 72Hz.

Each headset supports prescription lens inserts for people with vision correction needs. There are no official hardware controllers for Vision Pro, but PlayStation VR controllers are fully supported. Samsung does make controllers for Galaxy XR, although they're sold separately.

Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Apple Vision Pro: Hardware and specs

While Samsung has the clear edge in design and displays, Apple has an advantage in performance. The original Vision Pro was a solid performer with the M2 chip, but the latest Apple M5 revision is even better. It adds 120Hz support, hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, and better rendering.

In other words, Vision Pro will deliver crisper images with M5 despite using the same display hardware. The headset also uses an Apple R1 co-processor specialized for taking in and processing data from the headset's wide assortment of cameras and sensors.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy XR is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 processor. It's still a very good chip, bringing a 20% higher CPU frequency and 15% higher GPU frequency than the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. The latter powers the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S, but the more powerful variant is key to running Galaxy XR smoothly.

Samsung sells Galaxy XR in one 256GB storage configuration with 16GB of RAM. Apple offers more storage options, with the headset starting at 256GB and going up to 1TB.

When equipping the Galaxy XR with cameras and sensors, it looks like Samsung took a few cues from Apple Vision Pro. Both headsets feature two passthrough cameras, six world-facing cameras, and four internal eye-tracking sensors. Each one also offers a depth sensor, four inertial measurement units, and a flicker sensor. Apple set the baseline, and Samsung matched it.

However, Apple still goes a step beyond with a LiDAR scanner and TrueDepth camera. Each headset comes with two open-air speakers for audio playback.

Samsung is the winner in connectivity, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 on the Galaxy XR. Apple Vision Pro still only supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. Considering so much on Vision Pro is done wirelessly, it's shocking that the headset still supports such an outdated standard.

Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Apple Vision Pro: Apps and software

Samsung's Galaxy XR is the first headset to run Android XR, while Apple's Vision Pro runs visionOS 26. Both operating systems aim to leverage the Google and Apple app ecosystems, respectively, to deliver the best experience. Ideally, the Google Play Store and App Store support allows XR headset users to access their favorite apps without developers needing to build for these specific platforms.

In practice, that doesn't work great on Vision Pro. Developers can choose to opt out of the platform, and some big names already have. When an app isn't optimized for Vision Pro, it effectively runs in a virtual iPad-sized window.

There are some things about visionOS that just make sense, like navigation, spatial photos and videos, and widgets that you can place on your real-life walls. However, apps and content explicitly built for Vision Pro feel lacking over a year after its release.

Android XR feels like a winner in app and content support, but it's too early to know for sure. It leverages the Google Play Store ecosystem similarly to Vision Pro, and adds 30 games built specifically for the headset. It can be used with apps like Virtual Desktop for productivity and PC VR applications.

If you're still craving more, the Samsung Galaxy XR's onboard USB-C port can take in display data from basically any source, turning the headset into a virtual monitor.

Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Apple Vision Pro: Which should you buy?

Of the two headsets, Samsung's Galaxy XR will provide a better experience today than Apple Vision Pro. It's also a better value, costing about half the price of Vision Pro while delivering similar hardware. When you consider all the perks you get if you buy Galaxy XR before 2026 — a year of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, NBA League Pass, and more — the headset becomes a pretty solid deal.

There are a few aspects of Vision Pro that exceed Galaxy XR's capability. Notably, the headset is powered by the Apple M5 chip, which can run laps around the Snapdragon processor in Galaxy XR. That enables real-world perks, like 120Hz refresh rates. However, it feels like the visionOS app ecosystem isn't ready to utilize the Vision Pro's hardware advantages.

For now, the Samsung Galaxy XR is the extended-reality headset to buy if you want next-generation hardware and a great app ecosystem. It's still a tough sell, much like Vision Pro, because of its price. There are cheaper options available now, such as the Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3S, and the price of premium headsets will surely come down over time.

The headlines since the Galaxy XR's launch have been pretty clear. Samsung's first Android XR-powered headset is fantastic, and it's being lauded as the more affordable Apple Vision Pro we've been asking for. But does that mean it's right for you?

That question depends entirely on what you plan to do with it, of course! Just like the Apple Vision Pro, Samsung and Google have posited that the Galaxy XR is for entertainment and productivity, with a little sidecar of gaming attached.

That means if you're looking to work on your headset and want an infinite canvas of monitors surrounding you at all times, the Samsung Galaxy XR is the best way to achieve that goal. Similarly, if you regularly find yourself at home disinterested in what everyone else is watching or playing, Galaxy XR is a great way to kick back and see or play what you want without being kicked off the TV again.

Already ahead of the pack

Galaxy XR has the best screen ever in a VR headset, packing in an incredible 29 million pixels in a pair of micro-OLED panels. These panels are powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 chipset and, since Android XR runs the show, every single Android app on the Google Play Store works on the headset.

That means any streaming app, productivity app, or really any app at all can be found and used on the headset, so you don't need to wildly adjust your current habits to jump into Galaxy XR's amazing immersive views.

In fact, Galaxy XR is the only VR headset with an official Netflix app, so you get the full quality of every show and movie without worrying about browser compatibility or side-loading.

On top of that, it's easy to hook Galaxy XR up to a PC wirelessly with the Virtual Desktop app, or just natively hook up to a Galaxybook laptop with Samsung's built-in software. This way, you can not only work on your PC without hurting your neck (boy, do I hate looking down at a laptop for hours), but you also get the flexibility of multiple monitors, no matter where you are.

That means you can bring your laptop and headset with you on your next work trip and still feel like you're working at home. It also means long plane rides can be a way to relax and unwind with a giant virtual theater in front of you instead of a seat 15 inches from your face.

A VR gaming powerhouse

VR gamers will find that the Meta Quest 3 is a better buy for standalone VR games, as it has thousands of titles available through Meta's store. But PC VR gamers should seriously consider the Galaxy XR, as it's currently the best wireless headset for PC gaming.

That's because the Virtual Desktop app is able to pass Galaxy XR's face tracking, eye tracking, and hand tracking capabilities to your PC, allowing apps like VRChat to use this data to create more lifelike avatars. There's no other wireless VR headset on the market with this capability and power, making it the ultimate choice for wireless PC VR gaming enthusiasts.

Do you find yourself fitting into any of these three categories? If so, the Galaxy XR may just be the standalone headset you've been waiting for. It takes everything that was great about the Meta Quest Pro and improves upon it, delivering Apple Vision Pro-like visual fidelity with a new breakthrough in Android app support made possible by Android XR. It's a phenomenal solution for folks wanting the best of the best on the Android side of things.

I've been excited to get my hands on Samsung Galaxy XR, aka Project Moohan, ever since my first brief hands-on at Google I/O in May. So when Samsung invited me to New York City to demo its Android XR headset, I was ready to dig deeper into Samsung's answer to Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest Pro.

I left my 30-minute demo disappointed, not by the headset, but because it only scratched the surface. I enjoyed a spatial 3D tour of NYC in Google Maps with Gemini as my guide and saw 2D YouTube videos converted into 3D using AI — just like I did during my last hands-on.

This demo reinforced the fact that Samsung has the hardware absolutely nailed: Galaxy XR is wonderfully comfortable, surprisingly light and well-balanced, and features the best resolution (3,552 x 3,840) that I've ever seen on a VR headset.

More than hardware

But hardware only takes you so far. The Meta Quest Pro failed despite great hardware for the time, because no one wanted a $2,000 "laptop for your face" with only a handful of app partners and use cases. And Apple Vision Pro has its own app and gaming shortcomings, though it's sold much better.

So if you can feel immersed in a $300 Quest 3S, why spend $1,799 on Galaxy XR? The answer is apps: You need a mix of productivity, gaming, streaming, social, and browsing software, available to use simultaneously, to keep people in the headset all day, multiple days per week.

I wish I could have taken off the kiddie gloves and really put Android XR through its paces. However, my Galaxy XR demo — along with multiple demos on stage and in the press lounge that went more in-depth — proved that Samsung has pulled off something impressive and compelling, with Google's software as the ace in the hole.

The only question is whether Galaxy XR does enough to break through the current state of XR apathy.

Gemini is the key to the Galaxy XR experience

Before my personal demo, Samsung engineer Jin Park and Google XR Product Lead Max Spear gave a live demo of the headset on stage, and the main throughline of every app showcase was Gemini.

Gemini speedily opened apps, shared good pizza places nearby in Maps, generated a Halloween-themed video with an accompanying nursery rhyme via Veo 3, interpreted and explained the context for YouTube videos about golf and English architecture, and gave gaming walkthrough tips for Stardew Valley as Spear played.

Most ambitious was a game called Asteroid, directed by Bourne director Doug Liman, in which Gemini creates scripts and personalized responses for NPCs, voiced by actors and celebrities like Doug Perlman, Hailee Steinfeld, and D.K. Metcalf. Park spoke to "Metcalf," and when she switched to Korean, so did Gemini, translating Metcalf's dialogue while still using his voice.

The demo available to journalists was much less ambitious in scope, but I did get the chance to dive into a truly immersive version of Google Maps and have Gemini act as a tour guide. Last time, I explored Yosemite and learned the history of El Capitan; this time, I looked around New York City to find places to visit.

Something new to the experience was that Google has begun to create "full digital reconstructions of indoor spaces using just 2D imagery and AI."

Basically, so long as Google has enough user-provided photos of a restaurant, museum, or attraction, you can warp inside it and then drag yourself around the space using gesture controls, seeing what a place looks like "in person" before you visit it yourself. Spear said they have "over 1,000 of these available in New York City alone."

I also dove into YouTube on Galaxy XR. Like last time, they showcased 180-degree and 360-degree videos that take full advantage of VR, as well as stereoscopic content with a 3D effect.

What most intrigued me was how Google used AI to automatically add spatial layers to 2D videos, subtly transforming old 2D content instead of depending on a limited 3D library.

Google also added a spatial multiview mode to YouTube for watching multiple live sports games simultaneously. I can't see this coming up very often, but it goes to show how multitasking is a key draw to Galaxy XR.

Otherwise, Samsung is promising that Galaxy XR will be the "only" XR device with Netflix, with a traditional VR theater view and resizable windows. We'll have to wait and see what other streaming apps appear; in theory, any Play Store app should be available.

A mix of casual and enterprise use cases

As a Quest 3 owner, I've wondered how Galaxy XR would handle gaming. I knew Android XR supported Unity and OpenXR, but that controllers were optional. It was a nice surprise to see Galaxy XR's independently tracked controllers — even if they cost $249 extra.

Any Play Store games should be playable in a windowed format on Galaxy XR. Samsung's demo had Park playing Stardew Valley, asking Gemini for farming tips, and joining a Meet call with friends simultaneously, with Galaxy XR using its eye-tracking cameras to generate a lifelike avatar for her.

Later, in the press lounge, Samsung reps played several experiences, using both the Galaxy XR controllers and a normal Bluetooth gamepad.

The headset already has several traditional VR games like Walkabout Mini Golf and NFL Pro Era. But they also demoed playing No Man's Sky via cloud streaming, while also streaming music and videos in side windows. They made a point of showing that the Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 and its 16GB of RAM can easily handle multiple apps and tasks.

Other headsets have their own multitasking solutions, but Google's polished apps and Gemini commands make Galaxy XR feel especially polished.

Google and Samsung have more lofty plans for Galaxy XR than just letting people casually explore Maps, watch YouTube, and play games. They brought a doctor on stage to show how Galaxy XR can be used to teach doctors how to intubate patients before attempting a life-saving tracheotomy in real life.

In another example, colorfully shown above, Samsung reps described how the ShapesXR app will be used to plan out the ideal packaging for cookies by placing them in a virtual storefront.

Most of these Enterprise use cases won't apply to you or me, but they'll theoretically help Samsung make enough money on Galaxy XR to subsidize it for VR superfans.

Waiting to put Galaxy XR through its paces

VR headsets have promised an "infinite desktop" space for productivity before. But Samsung has an advantage: "All apps built on the Android platform work right out of the box on Galaxy XR." Only a few apps will be "Made for XR," but early adopters won't be waiting impatiently for the promise of new content. It's all there to start, filling that "infinite" space.

The closest Android equivalent is DeX mode on tablets, filling a larger space with mobile windows, except that the workspace spans hundreds of inches instead of 11–13. And since you can use a controller or mouse/ keyboard in addition to pinch gestures, it's an upgrade on taps and swipes.

The real question is whether people can afford to buy this in addition to a laptop, since wearing anything for eight hours a day can be onerous, let alone a one-pound headset. But if you'd normally consider buying a Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra for $1,300, the jump to $1,799 may not be that insurmountable to your budget.

I can't predict how well Galaxy XR will sell, despite its tremendous potential. Samsung made sure to mention in its keynote and press release that it'll make AI smart glasses soon, using Warby Parker and Gentle Monster designs. It felt like a reminder that glasses have become more popular, while headsets have fallen out of vogue.

Having already tested Google's AR glasses prototype, I do think Android XR will work well for Samsung's smart glasses. But they'll fit the same casual, daily-life niche as the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses — a wearable smartphone. Galaxy XR has the display and power necessary for a much wider range of use cases.

While my Galaxy XR hands-on was disappointingly short, the live demos worked near-flawlessly on stage, and they convinced me that "Project Moohan" is an impressive device for anyone who can afford it. I'm looking forward to taking off the demo training wheels and seeing whether it's something worth using for hours at a time.

What you need to know

• Samsung launched Galaxy XR, its first AI-native headset and the debut product under the new Android XR ecosystem co-developed with Google and Qualcomm.
• Powered by Google's Gemini, the headset is designed to be an AI companion that sees and hears your world, responding naturally instead of just taking commands.
• Built for long-term use, it features a lightweight frame, detachable light shield, and a separate battery pack for better weight distribution and up to 2.5 hours of use.

Samsung is officially jumping headfirst into extended reality (XR) with the launch of Galaxy XR, its first AI-native headset and the debut product for the Android XR ecosystem. Announced today, the device marks the start of a long-term push from Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm to blend artificial intelligence with immersive computing, a move that could reshape how people work, play, and explore digital spaces.

At its core, the Galaxy XR is built on Android XR, a new platform co-developed by the three tech giants, with Google’s Gemini AI baked right in. This means it’s not just a headset running Android apps but also an AI-powered device that understands your surroundings, responds naturally through voice, vision, and gesture, and helps you manage tasks in a more human-like way. Think of it as a spatial computing assistant that doesn’t just take commands but sees what you see and reacts accordingly.

Samsung calls the Galaxy XR the first step in its XR journey, with more form factors — including AI glasses — already in the works. The headset’s design focuses on comfort for long sessions, using lightweight materials, a balanced frame, and a detachable light shield. The battery pack is separate, too, making the device lighter on the head while still lasting up to 2.5 hours on a charge.

Under the hood, it runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 platform, with 16GB of memory and a Micro-OLED display pushing 29 million pixels at up to 90Hz. The visuals are said to be sharp, immersive, and backed by immersive sound from a dual-speaker setup. It also tracks your head, hands, and eyes with precision using a mix of cameras and sensors.

Your favorite Android apps, reimagined in 3D

Out of the box, Galaxy XR supports familiar Android experiences in 3D form — Google Maps, YouTube, Google Photos, and even Circle to Search — all optimized for the new environment. You can navigate cities in 3D, explore YouTube videos with real-time AI context, or simply draw a circle in midair to identify objects around you. Google Photos’ new Media Auto Spatialization further adds depth to your 2D pictures and videos.

The headset also doubles as a personal theater, letting you stream in 4K, catch multiple sports games at once, or play AI-enhanced XR games where Gemini offers coaching and gameplay tips. For creators, tools like Adobe’s Project Pulsar make 3D editing and cinematic layering easy and intuitive.

From play to productivity: XR goes enterprise

Samsung isn’t stopping at consumer use either. The company is expanding Galaxy XR into enterprise, with partners like Samsung Heavy Industries using it for virtual shipbuilding training. It’s also working with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces ecosystem to help developers bring XR business solutions to life.

And if the headset isn’t futuristic enough, Samsung’s also teasing upcoming AI glasses made with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, blending smart tech with high-end fashion.

The Galaxy XR is available starting October 21, 2025, for $1,800, through samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores. Optional accessories like the Galaxy XR Controller and Travel Case go for $250 each. Early buyers get The Explorer Pack, a bundle worth over $1,000, which includes year-long access to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, and a mix of premium XR content.

What you need to know

• Samsung and Google are launching the Android XR platform today as part of a "broader XR roadmap" for AI glasses, VR headsets, and more.
• Warby Parker and Gentle Monster are partnering with Samsung "to create beautifully designed eyewear and deliver exceptional customer experiences."
• These smart glasses will use Gemini to make using them as easy as possible, with some pairs even likely including a display in the lenses.

Samsung's Galaxy XR is officially debuting the Android XR platform for a new generation of wearable devices, but fans of AI glasses still have a few months to wait before their dreams come true.

During today's launch of Galaxy XR, Samsung revealed more about its partnership with Google, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker to debut AI glasses that will challenge Ray-Ban Meta on all fronts, starting with the first major competition for Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2.

Samsung's Gentle Monster AI glasses will "bring stylish, fashion-forward eyewear that blends cutting-edge Al-native technology with cultural influence and design leadership," according to the company's press release. This is a clear way forward for the company to challenge Meta on a substantial level, offering users a way to get familiar functionality without the negative feelings some people harbor toward Meta as a company.

Based on this, we can expect Gentle Monster glasses to look like a normal pair of specs, complete with many different style , lens, and color options. Those glasses will feature Gemini-centric AI functionality that allows users to control the glasses using only their voice. We should also expect these glasses to have cameras on them for recording life from a first-person perspective.

Samsung's partnership with Warby Parker sounds similar, with the company noting that it's "working with pioneering lifestyle brand Warby Parker, known for leveraging technology to create beautifully designed eyewear and deliver exceptional customer experiences."

To me, this sounds more like Samsung's direct answer to Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses (that's the one with the display in the lens), similar to what we already got to use at Google I/O this year. It's still highly likely that we'll see additional styles from Warby Parker that don't feature a display in the lens, as well.

The company is mum on specific models, prices, and release dates at this time but notes that AI and XR glasses are "part of its broader XR roadmap" in collaboration with Google.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, we got to see a massive Samsung XR headset leak, Wear OS finally landed on previous-gen Pixel watches, Galaxy S26 Ultra could come drenched in a familiar orange hue, OnePlus' OxygenOS 16 inches towards launch, and Motorola finally rolls out Android 16 to some devices.

Samsung's Project Moohan headset leaks in full

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Samsung's XR Headset has been teased several times, and we're also waiting for when the company will finally launch it, and well, give it a less complicated name. But this leak from Android Headlines just leaked every single detail of the headset, including its UI. According to several images posted on the website, the alleged VR headset will have six cameras on the front and two lenses internally.

Several sensors will be fitted around the front of the device to make sure the device detects gestures and eye movements. Additionally, the leak claims that the headset will have microphones and speakers, advanced enough to detect the difference between the user's speech and someone speaking to them.

The leak claims that this headset will run on "One UI XR," which sounds like a skin of Android XR. The screenshots posted by the publication show apps like Camera, Gallery, Google Chrome, Maps, YouTube, Netflix, and more.

Wear OS 6 finally lands on older Pixel Watches

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Older Pixel Watch models got a much-needed upgrade OS-wise this week. Google's OTA images page for its Pixel Watches now mentions its major v16 (Wear OS 6) update. However, Google hasn't published its patch notes for the Wear OS 6 update.

However, its OTA images page states the update is rolling out for the Pixel Watch 3 and the Pixel Watch 2, and for both Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and LTE versions. But it ends there; the Pixel Watch first-gen wasn't mentioned in this update. While Google hasn't published its official Wear OS 6 October security patch changelog, Android Central's Derrek Lee and Michael Hicks are seeing Wear OS 6 on their watches.

Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 owners are in for a major OS overhaul, with the most notable change being the adoption of Material 3 Expressive redesign. It adds a splash of color to the UI and allows users to make it more personal, too. The update brings a color palette to your watch face, along with updated, more rounded fonts and icons.

Could the Galaxy S26 Ultra steal Apple's orange?

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According to a tipster on Reddit, dummies of the alleged Galaxy S26 Ultra leaked online in three colorways, showing off the device in an electric orange hue similar to that of the latest iPhone 17 Pro. At the same time, the other two dummies sport a silver and golden colorway.

We've been seeing leaks about design changes on the next Galaxy line-up; however, this is the first time we've seen leaks about the alleged colors the device could show up in. The image above shows the device's rear panel with the rumored quad-camera array, featuring rounded corners. The Reddit post doesn't talk about any other specifications. Some speculate that this could be an AI-generated image to create hype about Samsung allegedly copying Apple with this color.

OxygenOS 16 teaser drops (iOS is that you?)

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OnePlus' next OS update is just around the corner, and we got the first peek at what's in store for OnePlus users. The most recent tease shows the OS in action, calling it "smooth." The company demonstrates that the UI is much more fluid and fast for swiping between applications and menus. OnePlus says, "Move through your screen like playing your favorite tune."

In the clip, the model is swiping their finger across several OnePlus devices, all with their background apps screens open. The OS seems incredibly swift, without any visible lag or hitch, though it is just a teaser clip. However, just from this brief glimpse, OxygenOS 16 seems to resemble Apple's iOS.

In a subsequent clip, the company demonstrates how users can easily pull and expand their folder previews on their home screen, creating small, circular folders to save space or folders that can stretch horizontally and expand to more boxy shapes. What's an OS update without some AI magic? OnePlus teases that the phone's AI will be "Intelligently Yours."

Motorola finally gets Android 16

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Motorola has finally checked in to the Android 16 party as the company started rolling out this major update for several Edge series phones this week.

Android 16 is now available for the Edge 60 Pro, Edge 60 Fusion, and Edge 50 Pro. Motorola phones usually have a delayed rollout with new OS updates, but this time, the company says it is "reaffirming its commitment to timely software updates" with this rollout.

In terms of new features, Motorola says its Android 16 update is "designed around simplicity, security, and connectivity." This update is bringing Notification Auto Grouping, which automatically combines multiple alerts from the same app when they arrive in quick succession to reduce clutter. Along with instant Hotspot, refreshed UI, and detailed battery and device health stats.

More stories this week

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

• Samsung's next-gen tech might power an alternative Galaxy Z Flip 8 Snapdragon
• Google TV could soon let you create AI videos right from your couch
• The ultra-thin Motorola Edge 70 takes a shot at Apple and Samsung with a massive battery
• The Pixel 10 Pro's camera gets the shakes in serious user bug reports
• You may see a One UI 8.5 beta program for Samsung Galaxy late this fall
• Google Pixel October security patch continues to fix haunting display problems
• Google Pixels gain DoD approval, joining Samsung and Apple in elite security circle
• Samsung lets you 'Experience' the Galaxy in more stores across the US
• Google's AI Try-On tool expands to Canada, bringing the fitting room to your phone
• US Supreme Court upholds Google Play Store changes amid ongoing Epic Games lawsuit

What you need to know

• Samsung's Android XR Headset allegedly to feature advanced sensors and eye-tracking capabilities for immersive experiences.
• The headset supposedly runs on One UI XR, boasting a 4K micro-OLED display and Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor.
• Rumored launch date for the this headset ciuld be set for October 21 or 22.

We've seen ample teasers of Samsung's Android XR Headset, also known as Project Moohan, at both MWC and Google I/O this year. Although we still don't know exactly when this headset is set to launch or what it will be called, the recent leak provides us with all the information we need about Samsung's upcoming headset.

Sensors and controls

According to several images posted by Android Headlines, the alleged VR headset will have six cameras on the front and two lenses internally, and these lenses will be covered with a spongy, "soft-touch material" that will "hold" the headset on your face. The leak claims that the headset weighs only 545 grams.

Additionally, in the front, the headset will be equipped with sensors under the glass, that is said to detect gestures and eye movement. "The ones in the top-left, top-right, bottom-left, and bottom-right corners are for hand tracking, and two round sensors at the bottom of the headset, next to the nose cutout, will pick up on your hand gestures." Another "depth sensor" is located close to the user's forehead, which will supposedly help gauge your surroundings.

Furthermore, the device could showcase four eye-tracking cameras that use infrared LEDs and AI to track the user's pupils "at all times." The images show that the headset features two top buttons: a volume control and a "Top button." This launches apps and the UI, or long-pressed, accesses Google Gemini.

The headset's bottom seems to feature air vents, various sensors (including hand movement), and multiple microphones that will be advanced enough to detect the difference between the user's speech and someone speaking to them.

The headset will supposedly come with two controllers, with 6 DoF and analog sticks. It will also have haptic feedback for accurate 3D movement tracking and enhanced immersion.

One UI for XR

The leak claims that this headset will run on "One UI XR." The screenshots posted by the publication show some Camera, Gallery, Google Chrome, Maps, YouTube, Netflix, and more. It seems from the screenshots that users will be able to customize some icons that they need handy above the larger list of applications, as seen in the "top menu, which has home, Google, and Gemini, with other icons for controls.

As for its specs, the website states that the headset will feature a 4K micro-OLED display across two screens. Powered by a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor, it will allegedly support spatial audio, gestures, AI, and tracking. Navigation is via a right-stem touchpad (long tap to recenter, double-tap for VR/Pass-Through modes) and a left-side power connector for a brick battery. It offers 2.5 hours of video playback and 2 hours of general use, with spatial audio via 2-way speakers (woofer and tweeter) on each side.

While this is an incredibly detailed leak, it should be taken with a grain of salt. But we won't have to wait for long, as the headset is rumored to launch on Oct 21 or 22.

Meta recently unveiled its second-gen AI smart glasses, bringing some pretty notable upgrades while maintaining the same stylish design. And while I haven't jumped on the smart glasses train just yet, the new offerings from Meta have me really excited about this growing category.

Meanwhile, Samsung is rumored to have its own AI glasses in the works, which could launch as soon as October alongside the more powerful Project Moohan XR headset. These have a lot of potential, especially as the first real competitors to the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2). However, with the latest generation being Meta's third attempt at smart glasses, Samsung and Google will have to play catch-up on both hardware and software to make up for lost time.

All the right upgrades

It's only been the last few years that smart glasses started taking off, and that's largely thanks to Meta. In 2021, it seemed a little strange that Meta was diving into this unproven market, but the popularity of the last-gen Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses proved that this is a winning category for the company.

Admittedly, Meta's last-gen model was the first time I was even remotely interested in smart glasses. I was impressed with how they're able to identify what was in front of me while looking like something anyone could wear, unlike the early attempts of Google Glass.

Unfortunately, there were some downsides to the glasses, with the main thing being battery life. This was admittedly the biggest reason why I hadn't pulled the trigger on buying them, but Gen 2 fortunately appears to have addressed this.

The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) is estimated to last up to eight hours on a single charge with mixed use. This feels perfectly sufficient for something like these, which I likely won't be using constantly aside from the occasional question, listening to music, and taking a photo or video here and there.

Meta also upped the video capture capabilities to a 3K resolution. As someone who loves to capture videos to post on my Instagram stories or Reels, this is a great upgrade. I'll likely stick to 1080p, because frankly, I don't think anything beyond that is necessary for social media, but having the option is nice.

Samsung's smart glasses could be just as compelling

We've heard and seen a lot regarding Samsung's Project Moohan and Google's Android XR ambitions, but we haven't heard as much about Samsung's rumored Ray-Ban Meta competitors. It has been reported that the glasses, dubbed Project Haean, could launch with the aptly named "Samsung Galaxy Glasses" moniker and would be audio-only, featuring a camera and quick access to AI assistants.

This already sounds quite compelling to me, as Samsung has put much of its focus lately on Gemini, which is becoming a staple in my life. Gemini's more natural conversational skills, as well as features like Gemini Live, which can easily identify what it sees and even remember things for you, would fit extremely well on a pair of smart glasses.

This could also give the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) a run for its money, as Samsung and Google have the ecosystem to back up Gemini's capabilities. On the one hand, Meta's services have become fairly ubiquitous, with apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp installed on hundreds of millions of smartphones, not to mention Meta AI injected into these apps (whether we like it or not). This, along with the growing popularity of Meta's glasses, gives it a good amount of mindshare among consumers.

On the other hand, Google and Samsung have been pushing Gemini's capabilities on their phones and other devices. Look at any Pixel 10 commercial and you'll see how the focus is less on the phone and more on what Gemini can do for you in your everyday life. This type of marketing is admittedly quite effective, and I imagine this would translate extremely well with Android XR glasses.

There's also the fact that these glasses would likely have a deeper connection with Android phones than Meta's do, which is another differentiating factor that could play in Samsung's favor. Imagine getting real-time Maps directions, creating new events in Calendar, or translating a conversation with Google Translate, all without taking out your phone.

Hands-free access to your favorite Google apps could be a huge draw over Meta.

Another Galaxy Ring situation?

If Samsung wants its "Galaxy Glasses" to succeed, it's going to have to do more than rely on its name to generate sales. We're seeing Samsung dive into new product categories lately with devices like the Galaxy Ring, and while it was a valiant effort to supplant a growing market, it's still an expensive product that feels a bit like an also-ran to the Oura Ring.

Samsung will have to create a rather compelling case for why people should buy smart glasses and why they should choose it over Meta. For that to happen, Samsung will have to get three things right:

• Design: They can't look like smart glasses if they expect people to wear them. They should also have multiple styles/colors.
• Battery life: Samsung hasn't always excelled in this spec, and it will have to really squeeze as much battery as it can to make them useful.
• Price: If they're too expensive, Samsung might as well throw in the towel to Meta.

Availability is also a concern. Rumors point to a reveal of the Galaxy Glasses in October, while some indications point to a 2026 launch, which could mean even more time for Meta's glasses to hold the spotlight.

On the plus side, Google's work on Gemini has put it in a good place for integrating into smart glasses, meaning the glasses should be plenty capable. If Samsung can nail everything else above, it could properly challenge Meta's growing lineup of AI glasses and push the market further into the mainstream.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, Samsung's XR Moohan headset and trifold emerge in leaks, Meta unveils three new smart glasses, Nothing Ear 3 arrives with a unique ability, OnePlus 15 renders leak, and Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2 brings early reveal of upcoming Pixel features. Let's dive in, shall we?

Samsung's next range of devices could launch next month

Read more here and here

Samsung's next wave of devices has been in the news lately, with leaks showing up about the Galaxy Z Trifold and the XR Moohan headset.

The report comes from a Korean news website (ETNews) that states that the extended reality (XR) headset, "Project Moohan," will be unveiled via an online Galaxy Unpacked event on Oct. 21. Initially, rumors suggested that Samsung could launch its XR headset along with its trifold device on Sept. 29 and open sales in October. The date seems to have been adjusted to "coordinate internal marketing strategies and ensure completeness," the publication added.

There have been conflicting reports about when Samsung could launch the trifold; some suggest that it could show up with the XR headset, while this report states that it will be unveiled at a separate event in November. We may not have a date pinned down, but Samsung is reportedly going to launch the trifold device in the U.S. simultaneously with South Korea. A "person familiar with the company's plans" told CNN that the U.S. has been a part of their launch discussions.

Meta's next-gen smart glasses arrive

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Meta just wrapped up its annual Connect conference and dropped three new smartglasses and some key updates to its Meta AI. The most exciting announcement was the company's Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which are its first to feature a display built into the lens, fully powered by Meta's AI, and also come with a Meta Neural Band that uses hand gestures to help you make calls, type texts, and even take pictures on the go. This allows for seamless, hands-free interaction with the glasses.

Meta also released the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2), an updated version of its popular glasses, featuring twice the battery life and a 3K camera. Users can expect double the battery life, meaning the frames can last up to eight hours with "typical" use and charge to 50% in ~20 minutes.

Meta even ventured into a pair of glasses that are exclusively for outdoor enthusiasts, craving adventure, or even sports enthusiasts. The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses feature a 12MP wide-angle camera that captures up to 3K resolution, along with Slow Motion, Hyperlapse, and adjustable stabilization for smooth action shots. The glasses work with Garmin and Strava for real-time AI stats, milestone auto-capture, and overlayed performance metrics you can share instantly on several social media platforms, talk about being caught in the moment!

Nothing Ear 3 arrives with an external Super Mic

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After teasing its premium earbuds in full, Nothing unveiled the Ear 3 earlier this week. The earbuds come in black or white colorways, both of which feature a transparent design and an aluminum and plastic case.

Speaking of the case, it has a built-in dual-microphone system with a dedicated "Talk" button. This "Super Mic" makes calls clear even in very loud places. All you have to do is press the button, and the audio input switches from the buds to the case, and the case transforms into a mic. Pretty handy for when you need to record reels for Instagram/TikTok or if you need to record a quick voice note.

The Nothing Ear 3 also gets upgraded sound quality, featuring a larger 12mm dynamic driver, up from the Ear 2, which will supposedly increase the bass to 6 dB and up to a 4 dB improvement in treble. The adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) can now cancel up to 45 dB of noise and automatically adjusts to your surroundings.

Nothing Ear 3 costs $179 in the U.S., and is also available in the U.K. and Europe for £179 and €179, respectively.

OnePlus 15 shows up in a leak looking like iPhone's distant cousin

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The leak comes from a Weibo user (via GSMArena) who claims to have got their hands on the OnePlus 15, showing the new camera module design and the three colors it will reportedly launch in. If this image is the real deal, it seems like OnePlus has let go of its usual circular camera array, swapping it for an iPhone-esque design.

The image shows a square camera module at the top left of the device, with two lenses arranged vertically and a third lens to their right — very similar to the iPhone 16 Pro. The module also includes a flash, but no Hasselblad branding, swapping it for OnePlus' own DetailMax Engine.

The phone also appears in three colors: Absolute Black, Mist Purple, and Sand Dune. The OnePlus 15 is rumored to feature a flat 6.7-inch 1.5K resolution display with an "ultra-high refresh" 165Hz rate, confirmed by the CEO himself. The display bezel is also said to be "symmetrical front." The OnePlus 15 is also expected to get Qualcomm's latest flagship chipset and a massive 7,000 mAh battery.

We might see the flagship launch sometime in October, according to several other rumors.

Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2 arrives with customizable icons

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Google started rolling out Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2 for Pixel devices, including the newest edition, the Pixel 10 series. This seems to be shaping up as an essential update showing beta users more than just a gist of what they can expect in December's Pixel feature drop.

Considering the software is in the "later-stage" beta, it brings with it new features as well as security updates. The one feature that really stands out is the ability to customize icon shapes — neat, right? It gives users more control over how they'd like to customize their home screen, and you can select from a variety of different icon styles that match your preference. You can even turn your apps into tiny flower blobs or cookies.

Another feature that's customer-facing is for the fitness enthusiasts; this beta introduces upgrades to Health Connect on the device. It gives users the ability to seamlessly track their steps using the device's sensors, and Google notes that this feature won't cause your battery to drain as much. The beta also introduces enhanced security features for both developers and users.

More stories this week

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

• Gemini's September drop spruces up camera and image editing for Pixel users
• Exclusive: Apple's big bet... and it's not the iPhone Air
• Google's mysterious smart speaker could be a throwback to the original Google Home devices
• Samsung is already chasing One UI 8.5, as new leak spots its Galaxy S25 test
• Ultrahuman and Clue team up to help women take control of their cycle
• Meta AI is evolving again, and it's resurrecting the metaverse
• This Kindle update makes your eBook reading even more comfortable
• Google, Gmail, and Meet hit by widespread outage, causing login issues
• Samsung's rumored 'Health Assistant' is a personal trainer in your pocket

What you need to know

• Samsung's XR Headset, Project Moohan, set to launch online on Oct. 21.
• Initial sales limited to 100,000 units for domestic market evaluation.
• Samsung's XR Glasses Project Haean expected to debut next year with advanced specs

We've already seen the Samsung XR Headset in all its glory and even took it for a test run before its official launch, thanks to the demo at Google I/O. But it remains unclear when Samsung plans to launch the headset, let alone give it a name. Will it still be called Samsung's XR Headset, aka Project Moohan? While we can't be certain what it will be named, the latest reports indicate that the headset's launch date has been pushed back to October.

The report comes from a Korean news website (ETNews) that states that the extended reality (XR) headset, "Moohan," will be unveiled next month. Samsung Electronics' Mobile Experience (MX) division will launch Moohan via an online Galaxy Unpacked event on Oct. 21, the news post claims.

Initially, rumors suggested that Samsung could launch its XR Headset along with its trifold device on Sept.29 and open sales in October. The date seems to have been adjusted to "coordinate internal marketing strategies and ensure completeness," the publication added.

Furthermore, the Korean OEM is supposedly going to ship only 100,000 for those who order the headset via Samsung.com. This supports earlier information suggesting the company intends to restrict initial sales to its domestic market to assess performance before a global rollout.

That said, there have been conflicting reports about when Samsung could launch the Trifold; some suggest that it could show up with the XR headset, while this report states that it will be unveiled at a separate event in November.

Samsung's XR Glasses

Samsung is also rumored to launch its XR glasses under the name Project Haean sometime next year. ET News says that these glasses could cost much more than the Meta Quest 3, which is around $500 and around 2 million won ($1,400). The company is said to keep the cost below Apple's Vision Pro, so that it could be accessible to more people. These XR Glasses will reportedly have Google Gemini's multimodal capabilities.

Speaking about its design, the report claims that these XR Glasses would use a micro OLED panel supplied by Samsung Display to achieve an ultra-high resolution of approximately 3800ppi, much more than Apple's Vision Pro (3391ppi).

Under the hood, it will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ 2nd Gen, equipped with 16GB of RAM, so it can run high-performance XR content and run apps without any problems.

While these are still speculations, we're waiting for Samsung to give us official confirmation on when it will launch its XR lineup.

As we near a decade of consumer VR availability, the industry is looking and feeling more mature than ever. Standalone headsets like the Meta Quest have taken the lion's share of the market share, and for good reason!

These headsets work like a portable console — a Nintendo Switch for your face, if you will — and are fun for quick pick-up-and-play sessions anywhere you want.

The popularity of the Meta Quest has created a boom in available VR games and accessories, and it's sometimes hard to decide what to pick up next. Do you love RPGs or strategy games? Social-first experiences or 100-hour single-player narrative adventures? Or maybe you just like to spend 20-30 minutes a day playing that addicting new puzzle game to get your brain going in the morning.

Are you a first-time VR user, a lapsed Quest 2 user, or unhappy with your current headset? Start out with our in-depth guides on the latest and greatest VR headsets today, how they compare, which one you'd probably like, and the best deals available.

If you already have a Quest 3 or Quest 3S, we can point you to some of our favorite Quest gaming experiences and the accessories that make your headset more immersive!

Maybe you're more interested in what comes next for the world of VR? We have info on all the leaked and confirmed headsets like the Quest 4 and Samsung Project Moohan that'll get you pumped for what's next.

Happy reading!

- Nick Sutrich, senior editor, phones (North America), VR
- Michael Hicks, senior editor, wearables, VR

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FAQ

What is VR?

VR (or Virtual Reality) is any computer-generated or artificial environment that gives the user the ability to interact with a simulated 3D space in real time. VR content is generally accessed through head-mounted displays called VR headsets. This technology has been around for decades (and was actually first introduced as a concept in science fiction!) but it didn’t reach the mainstream consumer market until somewhat recently, thanks to devices like the Meta Quest 3 and the PSVR.

What is the best VR headset?

The Meta Quest 3 is widely considered the overall best VR headset, thanks to its approachable design, excellent performance, and vast library of games. With a starting price of $499.99 for the 512GB headset, the Quest 3 might be a bit too expensive for some folks, which is why Meta has also introduced a more affordable device, the Meta Quest 3S. This $299.99 headset uses a lot of the same technology as its more-expensive sibling while settling for a lower-res display.

Is VR for kids?

VR headsets generally aren’t recommended for kids under the age of 12, largely because these youngsters still have developing eyes and brains. There is also an inherent physical risk to playing VR games, so it’s important that the children are mature enough to understand the dangers of wearing a VR headset. Once they reach an appropriate age, however, many young people have a great time using VR, thanks to the countless kid-friendly games and educational tools that are available.

What is Meta Connect?

Meta Connect is an annual multi-day conference hosted by Meta, one of the leading producers of VR technology. It’s also the company that owns Instagram and Facebook. Every year, Meta uses this event to unveil its latest innovative technology, from VR headsets and smart glasses to advancements in AI and augmented reality (AR).

What you need to know

• Samsung may unveil the Galaxy Z TriFold, XR headset, and Galaxy Glasses on Sept 29, 2025.
• The Galaxy Z TriFold could cost ~$2,930, making it Samsung's priciest foldable yet.
• Samsung's XR headset may be called Galaxy XR and launch with a ~$2,000 price tag.

2025 seems to be the year of Samsung's foldable phones. We just got the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, accompanied by the affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, but it looks like Samsung isn't stopping there. Rumors of a Huawei Mate XT–like trifolding phone from Samsung have circulated for some time, and it seems like it's finally happening this month.

According to reliable leaker Ice Universe, Samsung is planning to host a Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea on September 29, 2025, to introduce some new devices. The leaker claims this is where Samsung will officially debut the Galaxy Z TriFold, along with its first-ever XR headset (codenamed Project Moohan) and its first pair of AI glasses, reportedly called Galaxy Glasses.

Samsung had previously confirmed it would launch the XR headset and trifolding smartphone this year, but we didn't know the exact date. If the rumor is accurate, we could be getting the new devices in just a few weeks.

Moreover, this could be a significant milestone for Samsung, as the brand would be launching three new devices in new categories for the first time.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold could be here before you know it

We haven't seen renders or leaked images of the Samsung trifolding phone yet, but previous leaks and One UI animations have given us hints of what to expect. Reportedly, Samsung's trifolding phone will feature dual hinges similar to Huawei's Mate XT, with three equal folding parts (hence the name "TriFold") and a rear camera layout resembling the Galaxy Z Fold 7's vertically arranged design.

Leaks also suggest the Galaxy Z TriFold won't come cheap, with rumored pricing upwards of 4 million Korean won (~$2,930). This isn't surprising given the complex build and the fact that the Z Fold 7 already approaches the $2,000 mark.

As for other devices, Samsung's XR headset, likely called Galaxy XR, will also be pricey, with rumors suggesting around $2,000. We don't yet know if either device will launch globally, but we hope Samsung brings them to the States.

Thankfully, we don't have to wait much longer as the next Galaxy Unpacked seems just four weeks away. Samsung hasn't officially confirmed the date yet, apart from saying the devices are coming, but we expect the brand to announce it soon.

What you need to know

• Vivo unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Vision Discovery Edition, in China.
• The headset resembles Apple Vision Pro but is lighter at 398g versus 600g.
• Hardware includes dual 8K Micro-OLED displays and Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset.

The Android mixed reality headset market is beginning to boom, and while we're still waiting for Samsung's Project Moohan later this year, Vivo has just beaten the competition by launching its first mixed reality headset.

Vivo celebrated its 30th birthday today in Dongguan, China, with a special launch event where the company unveiled its first mixed reality (MR) headset called vivo Vision Discovery Edition. Vivo says it has been working on the product for about four years, and the headset is about the brand's vision of bringing mixed reality from the lab into everyday life.

At first glance, the Vision Discovery Edition looks very similar to the Apple Vision Pro. You have a glass-covered front with an aluminum frame and a fabric headband. What's different is that Vivo's XR headset is quite light compared to the Vision Pro, measuring just 398g, while Apple's comes in at around 600g. Vivo also says it offers four sizes of light seal and eight foam padding options to ensure an optimal fit.

While Samsung's XR headset is expected to be powered by Android XR, Vivo has used its own OriginOS Vision for the Discovery Edition. Vivo says the UI elements "seamlessly blend in the surrounding space," and the headset supports eye-tracking and fingertip gesture recognition.

On the hardware front, the Vivo Vision Discovery Edition comes with dual Micro-OLED 8K displays and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset. Vivo says the chipset is powerful enough for high-speed rendering in spatial computing.

The headset can generate up to a 120-foot virtual theater screen, allowing users to watch sports and e-sports broadcasts from multiple angles. Thanks to its split-screen feature, it can also display different games simultaneously.

Vivo hasn't announced pricing or availability yet, but the company will begin showcasing the headset to users in China starting next week.

Alongside the launch of the MR headset, Vivo revealed that it has renewed its partnership with ZEISS, aiming to deepen collaboration with the German brand for better night, portrait, telephoto, and video features on Vivo phones.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, Samsung confirms that its XR headset and trifold phone will launch this year, Meta's Q2 earnings soar, Qualcomm says Xiaomi will be the first to get its next Elite chipset, this Pixel 10 leak is as good as it gets, and Samsung could be mixing things up with its next Galaxy S26 lineup.

But before we get into the weeds of it, it's back-to-school season! So we've rounded up the best deals on laptops, tablets, and accessories to get you or your kid ready for a new year of learning. Check out our buying guides and avoid the last-minute rush

Samsung's trifold and XR Headset will launch this year

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Samsung announced its second-quarter earnings this week, and the Korean OEM seems to have made KRW 74.6 trillion (approximately $53.5 billion); however, the company's profits took a dip, with operating profit dropping to KRW 4.7 trillion ($3.37 billion). That’s a 55% decline compared to last quarter and almost the same year-over-year.

Samsung says the big reason behind the decline is the delay in shipping high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips to Nvidia, along with U.S. tariffs affecting chip sales to China. While that was some grim news for the company, things picked up mid-earnings call as the company essentially confirmed that it will launch the most awaited XR headset, its first trifold, and the Galaxy S25 FE later this year.

The company is “preparing to introduce next-generation innovative products, including our XR headset and tri-fold smartphone this year.”

Ran-Ban Meta smart glasses triple in sales and its earnings soar

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Meta reported its second-quarter earnings on Wednesday (July 30), and the company saw a 22% increase in its total revenue year over year, making $47.52 billion in Q2 alone. While Reality Labs still operates at a loss, on a more positive front, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses sales more than tripled in Q2, with CFO Susan Li adding that the 5% year-over-year increase was "driven by increased sales of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, and partially offset by lower Quest headset sales".

Li said that Meta is ramping up production on these glasses to meet the demand later this year.

Post the earnings announcement, Meta's stocks jumped by approximately 10% as well. "We've had a strong quarter both in terms of our business and community," said Mark Zuckerberg, Meta founder and CEO, in the press release. "

Meta attributes these results to its digital advertising sector, which brought in $46.56 billion, representing approximately 98% of its total revenue. Zuckerberg said during the earnings call that this strong momentum in digital advertising was driven by AI.

Qualcomm's FY Q3 revenue hits $10.4 billion

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Along with Samsung and Meta, Qualcomm also announced its earnings this week. The company made $10.4 billion in revenue, up 10% from the same period last year. Qualcomm's QCT division, which consists of its chipset sales, is what mostly contributed to its revenue. Headset sales experienced modest growth to $6.32 billion, while automotive and IoT saw larger 21% and 24% growth, respectively.

"Another quarter of strong growth in QCT Automotive and IoT revenues further validates our diversification strategy and confidence in achieving our long-term revenue targets," said Amon in a statement on Wednesday.

Even Qualcomm didn't shy away from making a big announcement to its investors listening in. During the call, Amon highlighted that the company also extended its partnership with Xiaomi to power multiple generations of devices for the massive Chinese market.

They noted that Xiaomi will be "the first OEM to launch with our next Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which comes out over the next couple of months."

This Pixel 10 leak is as good as its gets

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Prominent tipster Evan Blass seems to be at it again, considering we're closing in on the Pixel 10 series launch. This week, Blass posted a series of images on X, of the alleged Pixel 10 devices, the Pixel Watch 4, as well as the Pixel Buds 2a.

These official-looking images don't just show off the products but also share the supposed specs of the phones. The leak reconfirms that the baseline Pixel 10 will include a triple-camera setup featuring a 48MP primary sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide lens, and, for the first time, a telephoto lens with up to 20x Super Res Zoom. Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL will retain their telephoto sensors but offer an upgraded "Pro Res Zoom" capability of up to 100x, among other things.

What's more interesting is that one of the images shows the alleged Pixel 10 connected to a magnetic charger snapped onto the back of a 10 device without a case, suggesting that the Pixel 10 series could be the first flagship Android phones to support MagSafe-like Qi2 magnetic charging natively.

That said, this isn't official until it comes from the source itself, which seems to be not too far away, as the official unveiling is just around the corner — Aug. 20.

Samsung could rejig its Galaxy S26 lineup

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A new deep dive into One UI 8's build revealed that Samsung could be giving up on the standard Galaxy S26 for a new Galaxy S26 Pro. This comes after rumors that Samsung could also replace the Plus variant with the all-new Edge, with some tweaks, hinting that the Korean OEM might be switching things up in a huge way.

Android Authority seems to have stumbled upon evidence for this line-up rebranding in the One UI 8 build, and the product codenames seemed to have indicated that there may not be a base or, as they say, vanilla variant for the Galaxy S26 series next year.

"Instead, Samsung’s upcoming flagship series appears to consist of three models: Galaxy S26 Pro, Galaxy S26 Edge, and Galaxy S26 Ultra," the website stated.

More stories this week

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

• Epic Games for Android will be available on Google Store following court ruling
• YouTube's AI to identify teens rolls out while rules revert for profanity early in videos
• Samsung puts a spotlight on the Galaxy Z Fold 7's long-awaited camera upgrades
• Samsung's new foldables get first update just days after launch
• Android users to finally get an extra layer of security on Chrome
• The Galaxy Z Fold 7 just broke every Z Fold preorder record ever set in the US
• Nothing ignites hype for Android 16 on the Phone 3 with Closed Beta signups
• Meta's camera smartwatch rumored for September reveal
• Pixel 10 series pricing leak might make you double-take at this one model
• Leaked glimpse at Pixel Watch 4's 'side-mounted' charging surfaces in renders

What you need to know

• Samsung’s XR headset is officially launching later this year alongside the company's tri-fold phone.
• The TriFold will run Android XR, pack dual Micro OLEDs with eye tracking, and fold inward with two hinges.
• Samsung also teased that the Galaxy S25 FE and Tab S11 are both expected to launch in the next few months.

During its Q2 2025 earnings call, Samsung confirmed that the Project Moohan XR headset is set to launch later this year. It’ll roll out alongside a new tri-fold phone, setting the stage for a direct swing at Apple’s Vision Pro and giving Samsung something its rivals don’t have yet.

Samsung has already rolled out the Galaxy S25 lineup, Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Galaxy Watch 8 in 2025. Now, it’s confirmed that a tri-fold phone is also on the way, set to launch in the second half of the year (via SeekingAlpha).

While we’ve been hearing about Samsung’s tri-fold phone for what feels like forever, it was anyone’s guess whether it was real or just stuck in prototype purgatory up until now.

First Android XR device ever

The Galaxy Z TriFold is shaping up to be the first-ever device running Android XR. It sports a dual-hinge design that folds inward, keeping the main display tucked away when closed. For visuals, it’s expected to use two Micro OLED panels with a 90Hz refresh rate and built-in eye tracking.

Under the hood, it’ll likely be powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip, which can handle up to 12 camera feeds at once. Power comes from an external battery pack, keeping the main unit light and wearable.

Galaxy S25 FE and Tab S11 are showing up early

Samsung’s earnings call also dropped a heads-up that the Galaxy S25 FE is arriving earlier than usual, likely in late August or early September. The Galaxy Tab S11 series is expected to show up around then too.

The Korean tech giant teased Project Moohan in early 2025, then basically went radio silence. But now, it's finally putting the rumors to rest and showing it's serious about its Android XR ambitions.

What you need to know

• The prototype Android XR smart glasses are internally called "Google Martha."
• There is a new companion app for Google Martha that offers features like battery display, notification management, and recording control.
• The new details of the Android XR glasses were shared by an app developer on X.

We first had the chance to see and try out the Android XR smart glasses at Google I/O back in May. While they were prototype devices, new information reveals what they are referred to.

According to an app developer, Sayed Ali Alkamel (via Android Authority), who has shared the Android XR glasses paired next to a companion app, the Android XR prototype seems to have a name or supposedly a code name dubbed Google Martha.

Alongside the name, the companion app has also showcased what features to expect when connected to the alleged Google Martha Android XR glasses.

Firstly, the app can showcase the battery percentage of the smart glasses, per the shared image by the app developer. Users will further be able to manage notifications and their preferences. Additionally, Google Martha's ability to enable or disable recording of their view is also available through the said app.

Plus, since it is nonetheless a prototype, users will have options like the ability to give quick feedback next to reporting a problem, and it appears all can be managed through a single app on an Android phone.

As mentioned, Android Central's Michael L. Hicks managed to get his hands-on the Google AR glasses at the recent Google I/O event. The smart glasses feature one display on the right lens — a familiar approach made by Google Glass back in the day.

The smart glasses were heavily relying on Gemini to analyze everything through its holographic display. It could be triggered by pressing and holding the right temple side on the XR glasses.

While it is interesting to see the Android XR glasses have a name, the company hasn't shared/announced any plans to make them commercial any time soon. On the other hand, Project Moohan-based Android XR headset co-developed by Samsung is rumored to be seeing the light of day this fall.

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