At Google I/O, the author demoed Android XR glasses from Xreal and Samsung's prototype-based designs. These glasses represent a significant shift from the bulky Galaxy XR to more compact wearable devices. Samsung's upcoming glasses are expected to be based on Google's reference model, while Xreal's Project Aura offers dual OLED displays with intuitive gesture controls similar to Quest 3.

Xreal's Project Aura features dual OLED displays behind lenses, cameras for tracking and photography, and controls on one stem. A separate puck houses the Snapdragon-powered compute and battery components. The glasses display crisp, vibrant visuals and maintain position during movement, with electrochromic dimming for better image quality. Users can interact with windows and apps from connected devices.

Google's monocular prototype offers widgets like real-time translation and AI integration through Gemini. Features like Google Maps navigation appear in the user's line of sight and can tilt to show map sections. The single display provides information without overwhelming users, creating a middle ground between audio glasses and full XR experiences. Both Xreal and Samsung plan to launch their glasses later this year, though pricing remains a concern.