Chinese Xreal Powers Google’s Next Generation of AI Smart Glasses
- tech360.tv
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Chinese augmented reality startup Xreal has formed a partnership with Google on Project Aura, a new venture aiming to launch AI glasses next year. Project Aura will be powered by the Android XR operating system and the Gemini AI model. Google initially announced Project Aura, which physically resembles a pair of thick sunglasses, at its annual I/O developer conference in May.
The underlying technology relies on Android XR, which functions as a unified platform for extended reality or XR devices. This platform itself was developed through a partnership involving Google, Qualcomm, and Samsung. Project Aura utilises a sophisticated dual chip design for operation. An Xreal X1S chip is embedded directly inside the glasses while a Qualcomm Snapdragon Chip is housed in a separate, tethered puck that also holds the required battery.
For the user experience, the glasses feature optical see through lenses, enabling the wearers to clearly view their real world surroundings. Project Aura provides a substantial field of view of 70 degrees, and the system projects necessary applications directly into the user’s line of sight. Users can also interact with the device via hand gestures and are granted access to standard Google Play apps.
Xreal, which was formerly known as Nreal, was founded in 2017 by Zhejiang University alumni Xu Chi, Wu Kejian, and Xiao Bing. The company has rapidly developed into a major player within the smart eyewear market. Highlighting its innovation and quality, the Xreal One device was named one of Time magazine’s best inventions of 2025. In terms of recent performance, Xreal captured 4.1 per cent of the worldwide AR/VR headsets and smart glasses market during the second quarter of 2025. This impressive market share placed the firm third globally, behind only technology giants Meta and Xiaomi.
This market standing was largely achieved due to a massive growth in shipments; Xreal recorded a 113.7 per cent year on year surge in shipments during that specific quarter. The company’s trajectory has been supported by significant investment, including a US$60 million investment led by Alibaba Group Holding in 2022.
The overall competitive landscape for AI eyewear is seeing aggressive entry by numerous Chinese firms. The growing list of contenders includes leading entities like Alibaba, Huawei Technologies, Xiaomi, and Baidu, alongside specialized firms such as Rokid, Rayneo, and Meizu. Adding to this fierce competition, electric vehicle manufacturer Li Auto also recently launched its first AI glasses.
Global shipments of smart eyewear reached 2.5 million units in the second quarter of 2025, which sees a strong year on year increase of 54.9 per cent. China itself is a critical engine of this expansion. The nation shipped 664,000 units in the second quarter of 2025, posting an outstanding 145.5 per cent year on year increase. Forecasting future growth, the International Data Corporation projected that total smart eyewear shipments in China will climb dramatically to 2.8 million units for 2025.
The strategic alliance between Xreal and Google for Project Aura firmly embeds Chinese technological capabilities at the heart of the future development of extended reality and artificial intelligence devices worldwide.
Source: SCMP