Google to Preview Android XR Smart Glasses at Android Show as AI Eyewear Race Heats Up

Google Bets Big on Smart Glasses

Google is making smart glasses the centrepiece of its developer season, with The Android Show: I/O Edition streaming on 12 May at 10 AM Pacific, followed by the full Google I/O conference on 19-20 May. The events are expected to convert nearly two years of Android XR previews into concrete product announcements, as Google races to challenge Meta in the rapidly expanding AI eyewear market.

Two Product Categories Confirmed

Google first previewed Android XR-powered smart glasses at I/O 2025 and has steadily expanded its eyewear partner roster. In December 2025, the company formally confirmed two consumer product categories: audio-only AI glasses with speakers, microphones, and a camera, and display-equipped glasses with an in-lens screen for contextual information like navigation prompts and translation captions. Both run Android XR with Gemini as the primary AI interface.

Fashion Partners Lined Up

Warby Parker is targeting a 2026 launch for its first Google-linked glasses, backed by up to $150 million in Google investment split between product development and equity. Gentle Monster is also confirmed as a launch partner. The newest addition is Gucci, after Kering CEO Luca de Meo confirmed that Android XR-powered Gucci smart glasses will arrive in 2027.

Samsung and Qualcomm Join In

Samsung is developing its own Android XR glasses alongside Google's brand partners. During its Q4 2025 earnings call, Samsung EVP Seong Cho confirmed the company will launch AI glasses this year, describing them as delivering rich, immersive multimodal AI experiences. Reports point to two models featuring a 12MP camera, gesture-based controls, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR1 platform, at a weight as low as 50 grams.

Crowded Competitive Field

Meta continues expanding its Ray-Ban smart glasses lineup, with FCC filings revealing two new models and the recent $800 Ray-Ban Display glasses featuring a heads-up display. Apple is testing four distinct smart glasses designs, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, with a potential unveiling in late 2026 and a 2027 launch. Google co-founder Sergey Brin acknowledged the company's earlier stumbles with Google Glass, noting that AI capabilities now allow glasses to assist users without constantly distracting them.