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Eunice Xu

Chinese augmented reality start-up Xreal has teamed up with Google on Project Aura, a venture to launch artificial intelligence glasses powered by the Android XR operating system and Gemini AI next year, in a fresh example of Chinese capabilities in research and development.
Project Aura, resembling a pair of thick sunglasses, was first announced at Google’s annual I/O developer conference in May. The device runs on Android XR, a unified platform for extended reality (XR) devices built through a partnership between Google, Qualcomm and Samsung, and comes integrated with Gemini AI.
Aura employs a dual chip design, with an Xreal X1S chip embedded inside the glasses and a Qualcomm Snapdragon Chip housed in a separate tethered puck that also holds the battery.
The glasses feature optical see-through lenses, allowing users to clearly view their real-world surroundings with a field of view of 70 degrees. Aura projects applications directly into the user’s sightline, enabling interaction via hand gestures and granting access to Google Play apps.
“With Project Aura, we’re showing how Android XR can expand to the broader ecosystem, supporting new types of XR devices,” said Shahram Izadi, vice-president and general manager at Android XR at Google.
Xreal, previously known as Nreal, was founded in 2017 by Zhejiang University alumni Xu Chi, Wu Kejian, and Xiao Bing. It has rapidly become a major player in the smart eyewear market. Xreal One was named one of Time magazine’s best inventions of 2025.
Xreal captured 4.1 per cent of the worldwide AR/VR headsets and smart glasses market in the second quarter of 2025, placing it third globally behind only Meta and Xiaomi, according to International Data Corporation. This growth was fuelled by a 113.7 per cent year-on-year surge in shipments during the quarter, according to IDC.
Alibaba Group Holding led a US$60 million investment in Xreal in 2022. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
Chinese firms are rapidly entering the competitive AI eyewear market. Electric vehicle manufacturer Li Auto recently launched its first AI glasses, adding its name to a growing list of contenders that includes giants like Alibaba, Huawei Technologies, Xiaomi and Baidu, alongside specialised players like Rokid, Rayneo and Meizu.
Global shipments of smart eyewear reached 2.5 million units in the second quarter of 2025, up 54.9 per cent year on year, according to IDC. China alone shipped 664,000 units, posting a 145.5 per cent year-on-year increase. IDC projected that total smart eyewear shipments in China will climb to 2.8 million units for 2025, up 116.4 per cent.


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Project Aura, which features dual-chip design and optical see-through lenses, is a fresh example of China’s expanding R&D capabilities


Project Aura, which features dual-chip design and optical see-through lenses, is a fresh example of China’s expanding R&D capabilities.


China’s Xreal to power Google’s Android AI glasses as smart eyewear demand grows

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Project Aura, which features dual-chip design and optical see-through lenses, is a fresh example of China’s expanding R&D capabilities

Project Aura, which features dual-chip design and optical see-through lenses, is a fresh example of China’s expanding R&D capabilities