Everything we know about Googles upcoming Android XR smart glasses

Source: Mashable Tech

Google I/O 2026 is just around the corner, and all eyes are on what Google has in store for the year. One of the biggest expectations for the annual event is a major announcement involving the company’s planned smart glasses.

Google has already confirmed it will release a pair of smart glasses built for the Android XR platform in 2026. Until a official name is announced, we’ve been calling them the Android XR glasses. (Remember: Android XR is also the name of Google’s augmented‑reality operating system, which powers products like the Galaxy XR headset.)

Google debuted a concept of its upcoming smart glasses at last year’s I/O. The AI‑powered glasses featured a full augmented‑reality in‑glass interface with cameras, microphones, and speakers built in, and Google said it would work with brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to produce an array of styles. The live demo during I/O didn’t go as planned, but the concept gave us a glimpse of what’s coming.

Models of Android XR Smart Glasses

Google is developing more than one Android XR smart‑glass model.

• Model 1 – “no‑display” glasses

  • Compared to Meta’s Ray‑Ban glasses.
  • Equipped with a camera, speakers, and a microphone.
  • Can interact with Google’s AI assistant Gemini.
  • No visual display.

• Model 2 – “display” glasses

  • Includes an in‑glasses display for visual information such as captions, translations, and map directions.
  • Referred to by Google as “AI glasses.”
  • Detailed in a December 2025 blog post.

Credit: Google

Both models run on Android XR, Google’s smart‑glass operating system that debuted with the Samsung Galaxy XR headset.

Google previously confirmed that the no‑display model will launch this year, so we should get a preview at Google I/O. The timeline for the display model has not been disclosed yet; we’ll have to wait and see whether it’s revealed at I/O 2026.

What else do we know? Not much, but not nothing.

Outside of a few demos, Google hasn’t revealed many details about its smart glasses. However, as Mashable’s Chance Townsend reported, the Google developer design documentation for Android XR offers insight into the company’s AR/VR/XR approach.

“Designing for AI Glasses with Android XR requires a thoughtful approach to user experience, prioritizing comfort and seamless integration with the user’s daily life. Apps on glasses should feel like a natural extension of the user’s perception, providing convenient access to information without being intrusive.” – Android XR design principles

Our colleagues at CNET have tried on the unreleased Google smart glasses (definitely not the original Google Glass). In addition to Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, Samsung and eyewear brand Kering are rumored to be building Android XR glasses, with Kering potentially bringing a Gucci‑branded version to market soon.

All of these glasses are expected to feature deep integration with Gemini.

To find out more, tune into Google I/O 2026 and follow Mashable’s live coverage on May 19.