I recently got to try out Google and Xreal’s new smart glasses called Project Aura at Google I/O 2026. I had a chance to experience them for more than just a few moments, and I’m excited to share my thoughts!
These XR smart glasses run on Google’s Android XR platform. Although pricing and a specific release date are still under wraps, being able to demo the product was insightful. They feel like a mix between basic smart glasses, like the Ray-Ban Meta AI ones, and more immersive devices like the Vision Pro or Galaxy XR. It’s a compact innovation in the world of “spatial computing.”
Putting on Project Aura felt almost the same as wearing Xreal’s One Pro AR glasses. They’re lightweight and comfortable—perfect for daily use. For a sense of functionality, there’s a cable that connects to a “compute puck” you can wear around your neck. This device looks similar to battery packs for other headsets. However, I didn’t get to try the trackpad on it.
In my demo, I learned how to use hand tracking. It’s fairly intuitive. You reach out and pinch to select items, and pinching and holding lets you drag things around. However, eye-tracking isn’t a feature, which means you need to move your head to select items in your field of view. But the visual experience is impressive, with a 70-degree field of view that allows for multiple app windows to be used side by side.
The screens are bright and clear, making text and visuals easy to see. Unfortunately, I don’t know the exact specs like resolution or refresh rate, but Xreal has a history of good quality, offering 1080p in past devices.
While the hardware of Project Aura is a strong start, the software experience is where it truly shines. Based on my demo, it seems far more user-friendly than I had anticipated. Hand tracking had its hiccups—sometimes it failed to recognize my gestures—but overall, I could easily manipulate apps in my view. For instance, I looked at objects on a virtual shelf, and the software provided information about each one.
Gaming was the most thrilling part. While playing a role-playing game, I could grab the entire board and move it, which felt more natural than standard controllers. If the hand tracking improves, we could see fantastic developments for interactive games.
One of the cooler features is using Project Aura as an additional monitor for a laptop. After connecting via USB-C, I could extend my laptop’s display to the smart glasses. This aspect needed refinement, as transferring apps between screens wasn’t seamless.
Looking forward, Project Aura holds promise. It offers a compact alternative in a world of increasingly bulky headsets. Google and Xreal have limited time to smooth out the software before the potential launch later this year. Some users on social media are excited about it—many are hoping for a price point that’s accessible, considering the steep costs of other devices like Apple’s Vision Pro, which retails for around $3,500.
In conclusion, while Project Aura needs some tweaks, its potential in everyday use and immersive experience is clear. As we move deeper into the digital age, products like these may redefine how we interact with technology. The future of XR smart glasses looks bright, and I’m eager to see how it develops.
For more insights into the future of XR technology, check out Gizmodo.
Source link
Android XR,Google,Google I/O,hands-on,smart glasses,XReal
