Google’s latest Android Show, held on December 8 and framed as the XR Edition, felt like one of those moments where the company tried to ground its vision for mixed reality in everyday practicality. The presentation moved quickly from tools people can use right now on the Samsung Galaxy XR to ideas that, perhaps, hint at what wearable computing might look like a couple of years from now. Updates for the Galaxy XR headset are rolling out immediately, and the tone of the event suggested Google wanted users to actually feel these improvements rather than just hear about them.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung Galaxy XR users can now connect their headset to a Windows PC using the new PC Connect feature.
- A new Travel Mode stabilizes the view for users on airplanes, while “Likeness” creates realistic digital avatars for calls.
- Google previewed “Project Aura” by XREAL, a pair of wired smart glasses launching next year.
- Future plans include AI smart glasses developed with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.
- A “sneak peek” feature called autospatialization will turn 2D content into 3D in 2026.
It’s the new PC Connect feature that stands out first. Galaxy XR owners can link their headset directly to a Windows PC, which might sound simple but opens up a surprisingly flexible workspace. Inside the headset, the computer’s desktop appears right alongside Android apps. I imagine someone writing a document from their PC while, maybe out of habit, keeping a YouTube window open nearby. It’s the sort of multitasking setup that feels oddly natural once you picture it, even if it takes a moment to get used to the idea of doing it inside a headset.
Travel Mode is another update that seems small at first glance but solves a very real problem. VR headsets usually struggle on airplanes because the motion confuses the tracking sensors. Google’s new mode stabilizes the view so users can watch movies or get a bit of work done without the visuals drifting around. I think anyone who has tried using a headset in a moving vehicle knows how frustrating that can be, so this fix feels overdue.
Then there’s Likeness, which is still in beta. The feature uses the headset’s internal cameras to scan a user’s face and generate a realistic digital avatar. It’s meant for video calls, letting others see a natural-looking representation of the user rather than just a headset covering their face. It’s a curious idea, and perhaps some people will find it slightly uncanny, but it does solve a longstanding issue with communication in VR.
Looking a little ahead, Google previewed a software tool scheduled for 2026 called autospatialization. The concept is ambitious: automatically turn 2D content into 3D. During the event, executives showed how standard YouTube videos or even PC games could gain depth without developers having to adjust anything. It’s easy to imagine this becoming one of those features that starts as a novelty and gradually becomes something people expect from an XR device.
The company also dedicated time to hardware coming next year. Project Aura, made by XREAL, is a pair of wired smart glasses with a 70-degree field of view. They rely on a small external compute puck to run apps, and the idea is that digital windows can float naturally in a user’s real environment. It’s one of those products that seems designed to ease people into augmented reality without overwhelming them.
Google’s partnerships with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker point toward two separate paths for smart glasses launching in 2026. One type will skip a display entirely and instead offer audio and camera functions to interact with the Gemini AI assistant. The other will include a built-in display, giving users subtle overlays like navigation directions or notifications in the lens. It’s interesting to see Google split the category this way, perhaps recognizing that not everyone wants the same level of digital presence in front of their eyes.
For context, the Samsung Galaxy XR itself sits at the high end of the market with a price of $1,799. It runs on the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset and includes dual 4K Micro-OLED displays, each offering a resolution of 3,552 x 3,840 pixels. The device supports refresh rates up to 90Hz and weighs 545 grams, while its separate battery pack adds another 302 grams. It comes with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, placing it firmly in the premium category.
Altogether, the Android Show felt less like a futuristic pitch and more like a steady expansion of what people can actually do with XR devices today. And maybe that’s why the announcements resonated: they were practical enough to use now, but still offered a glimpse of what might be coming next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When will the new Galaxy XR features be available?
A. PC Connect, Travel Mode, and the Likeness beta start rolling out to users on December 8, 2025.
Q. What is the price of the Samsung Galaxy XR?
A. The Samsung Galaxy XR retails for $1,799 in the US.
Q. Does the Galaxy XR work with Windows PCs?
A. Yes, the new PC Connect feature allows the headset to display a Windows PC desktop.
Q. What is Project Aura?
A. Project Aura refers to a new pair of wired smart glasses from XREAL that run on the Android XR platform, coming in 2026.
Q. Can the Galaxy XR play 3D movies?
A. Yes, the device supports 3D content. A future update in 2026 will also automatically convert standard 2D videos and games into 3D.
Q. Which eyewear brands is Google working with?
A. Google is working with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to create lightweight AI smart glasses.
