Google is making a bold return to the smart glasses market by partnering with Chinese startup XREAL. Announced at Google I/O 2025 and showcased at the Augmented World Expo 2025 in California, the new glasses, codenamed Project Aura, are set to revolutionize the way we experience augmented reality (AR).
Project Aura is an optical see-through (OST) extended reality (XR) device built for the Android XR platform. It’s the second official device announced for Android XR, following Samsung’s Project Moohan mixed-reality headset.
The glasses feature a powerful X1S silicon chip designed by XREAL, specifically tailored for XR experiences. “We have invented and designed specific ASICs for XR processing, which can bridge all the data of the sensors of the AR glasses,” said Wu Kejian, co-founder of XREAL.
This technology allows the glasses to gather, process, and integrate real-world information with digital content, creating a seamless augmented reality experience. The X1S chip reduces motion-to-photon latency to as little as three milliseconds, ensuring that virtual displays are motion-tracked and anchored in space.
To keep the glasses lightweight and comfortable, heavy processing tasks are offloaded to an external puck-like computing device powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. This unit handles demanding computations and connects to smartphones or computers for broader digital media access.
Project Aura will also integrate with Google’s Gemini AI for intuitive spatial computing experiences. “This is really possible through a joint force between these three companies,” Wu said. “I don’t think any company in the world can make the entire stack of these AR glasses, all the way from the hardware itself, the silicon chip, the operating system, and all the way up to the applications.”
XREAL’s partnership with Google highlights a shared vision for advancing the AR ecosystem. Wu mentioned that this collaboration stems from being “true AR believers” and XREAL’s established market leadership, having shipped over 600,000 units and leading the global AR glasses market for three consecutive years.
A Robust Supply Chain in the Chinese Mainland
The ability to deliver tens of thousands of units even during challenging times showcases the resilience of the industry in the Chinese mainland. This contrasts with the early days of smart glasses, where supply chain issues were a significant obstacle.
“China really benefits from the smartphone industry over the past decades,” Wu said. He explained that advanced manufacturing capabilities developed for smartphones have transferred to smart glasses, including both AI and AR variants.
To further advance the AR glasses supply chain, XREAL and its manufacturer Longcheer established an industry alliance in February with key suppliers North Ocean Photonics and Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical. “The goal is to integrate our technical standards, establish a complete industry chain, and support the development of Chinese brands,” said Zheng Qiang, deputy general manager of Longcheer.
Looking Ahead
Despite external uncertainties, particularly tariffs impacting expansion overseas, XREAL remains optimistic. The company is diversifying into markets in Japan, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. “We believe in long-term strategy,” Wu said. “Innovation is the ultimate resilience against market cycles.”
The future of smart glasses is promising, especially with advancements in artificial intelligence. Wu believes that smart glasses development is still in its early stages and that innovation remains at the core of tech competition.
“In the long term, if smart glasses can achieve the weight and overall appearance of ordinary eyeglasses without the obtrusive feel of a large camera, then I believe people will gradually adopt them, replacing traditional eyeglasses,” Zheng said.
He added, “I believe that in the next three to five years, more Chinese manufacturers similar to XREAL will emerge.”
