I Tried Android XR, Google's New Bet to Compete with Meta and Apple.

Google has explored various initiatives in the realm of virtual and extended reality over the years, including Google Glass, Google Cardboard, and Google Daydream. Now, it introduces its latest effort: Android XR, which aims to redefine its approach in this competitive market. This new operating system integrates Gemini AI as its central element, intending to expand accessibility and application in various contexts. The company is trying to categorize XR devices similarly to how it has succeeded with smartphones.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Google campus in Mountain View, California, to have a firsthand experience with Android XR, although only unreleased prototypes were available. However, the main focus was still to learn more about the software platform. After the experience, I felt a great expectation about the future of this technology for 2025.

While testing the virtual reality headset Project Moohan, developed by Samsung, I quickly set the interpupillary distance, which improved image clarity. I was impressed by the lens quality and the fidelity of the camera vision in the environment. I had never seen such a sharp virtual reality experience, which heightened the feeling of being present in the setting. During the demonstration, I interacted with a bird in the Chrome browser that allowed me to see it in 3D, showcasing the integration of ARCore and augmented search capabilities in Android XR.

Throughout my tour of the demo room, I used the Circle to Search feature by drawing a circle around a doughnut toy, although it was partially covered by a plant. The search was not hindered by this obstacle, and I received suggestions on where to purchase it. I was impressed by the multimodal control solution, which allowed for switching management between input devices. Voice command control was also featured, activated by a light tap on the side of the headset.

One of the most interesting aspects was the eye tracking, which required an initial calibration process. As I looked at different objects, they lit up, and a pinch gesture activated the selection. The effective spatialization of flat content was highlighted in applications like Google Photos and Google Maps. Images and videos were displayed with a stunning sense of depth, turning the experience into something almost three-dimensional.

Android XR was designed to optimize the interface and functionalities according to hardware capabilities. While the headsets provide a fully immersive experience, lighter devices, such as glasses, offer a simplified interface. Furthermore, lighter devices can offload processing tasks to a connected smartphone.

I had the chance to try on a pair of black-framed glasses reminiscent of the models presented at Google I/O 2024. I was impressed to see how written directions from Google Maps were directly projected to the glasses, allowing me to experience an evolution of Google Glass.

During the demonstration of Project Astra, a multimodal version of Gemini, I could ask questions about objects in the room and obtain accurate information. However, I noticed some delays in responses, reminding me that this was a prototype in development. I was also shown an experience with a binocular display powered by Raxium's MicroLED technology, which offers high resolution in a compact size.

While Google’s path in extended reality has not been easy, with its first foray into Google Glass over a decade ago and the subsequent dismantling of Daydream VR, this new proposal, Android XR, represents a renewed commitment from the company. As companies like Meta also expand their extended reality ecosystems, greater competition in the XR device market is anticipated in the near future. It remains to be seen whether Google will re-establish itself in this field, but the expectations are promising with what has been presented so far.