Android XR smart glasses: What to know

Google I/O 2026 is just around the corner and all eyes are on what Google has in store for the year. One big expectation at the annual event are some major announcements involving the company's planned smart glasses.

Google debuted a concept of its upcoming smart glasses at last year's I/O. The AI-powered smart glasses featured a full augmented reality in-glass interface with cameras, microphones, and speakers built in. Google also said it would be working with well-known brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to produce an array of styles.

However, since Google showed off that concept, there have been some new developments with the Android XR smart glasses — emphases on glasses.

Google is, in fact, working on more than one Android XR smart glass model.

The first model of Google's Android XR smart glasses has been compared to Meta's Ray-Ban glasses. These smart glasses are equipped with a camera, speakers, and a microphone, and can interact with Google's AI assistant Gemini. There is no display with this model.

The second model notably does have an in-glasses display in order to show the user visual information, such as captions for translations and map directions.

Both smart glass 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-dispay model of Android XR smart glasses will launch this year, so we should get a nice preview of what they will offer at Google I/O. 

The big question is how much more Google will unveil about the Android XR smart glasses with in-glasses display as the company has not yet shared a timeframe for the release of that model. Will we find out at Google I/O 2026?