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Google and Xreal: New Android XR Glasses Launch at $1,099

DevicesOctober 29, 20262 min read

Xreal has launched its Aura smart glasses, made with Google, in the USA, Canada, Japan and South Korea. The glasses run Google's Android XR software and cost $1,099 at the introductory price.

What happened

Xreal has officially launched the Xreal Aura, a pair of computer glasses built closely with Google. It goes on sale in four countries: the USA, Canada, Japan and South Korea. Shipping should start in mid-November. Other markets are expected in 2027, but Xreal has not yet confirmed whether the EU will be included.

Key numbers and facts

Two versions: 12 GB RAM with 256 GB storage for $1,279, or 16 GB RAM with 512 GB storage for $1,499.
Introductory prices until the end of December 2026: $1,099 and $1,299.
The glasses weigh about 95 grams.
The field of view is 70 degrees.

How it works

The Aura runs on Android XR, Google's version of Android for smart glasses. It is the second device with this system, after the Samsung Galaxy XR headset. Unlike that headset, the Aura looks like sunglasses and is much lighter. It does this by moving the main computer and battery into a wired pocket computer. You see the real world through clear lenses, and you can control the glasses with Gemini voice commands, hand tracking, a trackpad, or a game controller.

Why it matters

This shows that smart glasses are moving closer to everyday use. Xreal calls the Aura a 'spatial computer' rather than just a screen for your eyes, because it can place apps, games and virtual cinema screens in the room around you. It is smaller than the Apple Vision Pro and Samsung Galaxy XR, but it also has a narrower view. Meta's upcoming VR Glasses are its closest rival, with a similar price of $1,299, though they are not due until spring 2027.

What to watch

Whether the EU is included in the 2027 launch.
How well the 150+ apps and games planned for launch work with the glasses.
How Meta's VR Glasses compare when they arrive in spring 2027.
Whether the introductory prices stay in place after December 2026.

Glossary

Android XR: Google's version of the Android system made for smart glasses and headsets.
Xreal Aura: A lightweight computer glasses product from Xreal, made with Google, that shows virtual screens over the real world.
Gemini: Google's AI assistant, used here to control the glasses with voice commands.

Xreal Aura is a new wired headset powered by Android XR

At the Android Developer Summit, Google smart glasses partner Xreal launched the Xreal Aura wired smart glasses, powered by Android XR and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite platforms. The glasses are tethered to a smartphone-like processing device and display content in the wearer's field of view, with a Sony Micro-OLED display, Bose audio, and orders open today in the US, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Pricing starts at $1,099 at the launch price through December, with shipping expected by mid-November.

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