Android XR

Android XR is an extended reality (XR) operating system developed by Google and based on Android. It was announced in December 2024 and will launch in 2025. The operating system is designed to support XR devices, including Samsung’s Project Moohan headset and a pair of smartglasses developed by Google DeepMind.^[1] Android XR is heavily integrated with the Gemini generative artificial intelligence–powered chatbot.

Following Google's earlier commercial failure of Google Glass, an earlier head-worn product, Google acquired VR companies Tilt Brush and Owlchemy Labs and made other ventures into head-worn computing products including the Google Cardboard and Google Daydream VR headsets, which were both eventually discontinued. In 2021, Google revived its XR efforts with a project internally codenamed Project Iris, an AR headset powered by a new operating system. However, Google shelved the project after Apple released the Vision Pro VR headset in 2024. One year later, Google announced Android XR as Project Iris' spiritual successor.