As announced together Google And SAMSUNG Today, Android XR will bring a suite of Google apps and services to the world of mixed reality, including popular offerings like Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Photos. Google also plans to support other Play Store apps, creating a rich ecosystem for developers and users.
Google’s vision for Android XR Video Credit- Google
Gemini and Galaxy AI: the brains behind Android XR
Google’s Gemini AI (and by extension Samsung’s). Galaxy AI) will be a core component of the Android XR experience, making interactions more intuitive and seamless. Gemini will act as a virtual assistant, helping users with various tasks and capturing audio and video content. Google Chrome will also be redesigned for Android XR, offering enhanced multitasking capabilities. Users will have the freedom to open and arrange browser tabs as they wish, creating a personalized workspace within the virtual environment.
Additionally, both mobile and tablet Android apps available on Google Play will work on Android XR out of the box. However, there are more apps and games that will be developed for XR that we should start seeing next year.
Samsung’s ‘Project Mohan’ headset Image Credit – Samsung
Project Muhan: Samsung’s first Android XR headset
Samsung is leading the hardware charge with “Project Mohan,” the first headset designed for Android XR. The name “Moohan” means “infinite” in Korean, reflecting Samsung’s ambition to provide an infinite amount of immersive experiences. The company says the device offers an unprecedented XR experience, allowing users to seamlessly transition between virtual environments and the real world.
In its blog post, Samsung has said that this headset will be equipped with a state-of-the-art display, passthrough capabilities, and natural multimodal input. Additionally, Project Moohan will serve as a spatial canvas for users to explore the world through Google Maps, enjoy sports on YouTube, or plan trips with the help of Gemini. He says all this will be packaged in a lightweight and ergonomically optimized design for maximum comfort. This device is scheduled for release in 2025.
Google will also soon start testing prototypes of immersive XR glasses in real-world scenarios. The company did not share details about what its own glasses will look like or when they will launch. However, the company said they would like there to be multiple options for comfortable and stylish XR Glasses that all Android users can get.
Navigation on XR glasses Video Credit- Google
The future of Android XR
While Android XR is still in its early stages, Google envisions a future where XR devices integrate seamlessly into our everyday lives. Android XR is an important step toward that goal.
We are at a turning point for XR, where breakthroughs in multimodal AI will enable natural and intuitive ways to use the technology in your everyday life. We’re thrilled to partner with Samsung to create a new ecosystem with Android XR that will transform computing for everyone across next-generation devices like headsets, glasses, and beyond.
Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google
The development of Android XR is exciting news. I’m particularly interested to see how Google’s apps and services are adapted to the mixed reality space. The integration of Gemini AI also holds great promise for creating a more intuitive and personalized user experience. I’m curious to see what the future holds for this platform and how it will fare against Apple VisionOS,
