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Google Sets 2026 Return to Smart Glasses With Android XR and Wired ‘Project Aura’

The push positions Android XR to court developers through fashion partnerships to challenge Meta's lead.

Overview

  • Google confirmed it will ship consumer Android XR glasses and a separate wired headset codenamed Project Aura in 2026, without giving a specific date.
  • The company named Samsung, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker as design partners, and it is advancing Android XR with fresh developer previews to seed apps.
  • Reporting indicates Samsung aims to introduce its first Android XR–powered AI glasses in 2026 without a display, featuring a camera, microphones, speakers and Gemini AI.
  • Industry reports place Samsung’s and Meta’s first display‑equipped consumer glasses in 2027, with Meta’s tethered ‘Phoenix’ prototype now reportedly pushed to that year.
  • Coverage describes diverging hardware strategies, with Samsung’s display glasses expected to be fully wireless while Meta’s prototype connects to a processing puck, as Meta remains the market leader.