Google’s Project Aura has taken shape as the new ‘Aura’ AI glasses, developed by China’s Xreal. The glasses were first revealed at Google’s I/O developer conference in May and run on Android XR, a unified platform created in collaboration with Google, Qualcomm, and Samsung.
The ‘Aura’ AI glasses feature a dual-chip design. An Xreal X1S chip is embedded in the frames, while a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip resides in a separate tethered puck that also houses the battery. This architecture supports seamless performance for AR applications.
The glasses use optical see-through lenses with a 70-degree field of view. Users can interact with projected applications using hand gestures, demonstrating the advanced capabilities of the device. Shahram Izadi, vice-president and general manager at Android XR, highlighted the expansion potential of Project Aura. “With Project Aura, we’re showing how Android XR can expand to the broader ecosystem, supporting new types of XR devices,” he said.
China’s Xreal, founded in 2017 and backed by Alibaba, is at the forefront of the AI eyewear market. Its previous model, the Xreal One, was named one of Time magazine’s best inventions of 2025. Xreal captured 4.1% of the global AR/VR market in the second quarter of 2025, ranking third behind Meta and Xiaomi, following a 113.7% surge in shipments.
The global smart eyewear market is experiencing rapid growth. Shipments jumped 54.9% in Q2 2025, fueled by China’s expanding AI eyewear sector. Companies such as Li Auto, Huawei, Baidu, and Xreal are driving this surge. China alone is expected to ship 2.8 million units in 2025, emphasizing its growing dominance in the industry.
The launch of the ‘Aura’ AI glasses signals a major step forward in augmented reality technology. With hand gesture control, immersive visuals, and a robust dual-chip design, the glasses set a new standard for smart eyewear worldwide.
As the AI glasses market grows, Project Aura and Xreal are poised to shape the next generation of wearable technology, offering consumers an innovative way to interact with the digital world.
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