AsianFin -- Just weeks after Google unveiled its next-generation AR glasses—Project Aura—in partnership with Chinese AR startup XREAL at its I/O developer conference, new technical details have emerged from the Augmented World Expo (AWE).
Project Aura is the result of a three-way collaboration between Google, XREAL, and Qualcomm, integrating their technologies across platform, hardware, and chipset layers.
Project Aura features a dual-chip architecture. The main computing unit is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, while the glasses themselves are equipped with XREAL’s custom-designed X1S spatial computing chip—an upgrade from the X1 chip launched in late 2023.
The X1S improves upon M2P (motion-to-photon) latency, achieving 3ms, far ahead of Apple Vision Pro’s 12ms and Meta Quest’s 40+ms. It also enhances AI collaboration and sensor fusion, tailored specifically for Aura’s performance needs.
The AR glasses boast a 70-degree ultra-wide field of view, achieved via XREAL’s proprietary optical engine. This delivers a virtual 215-inch display at a 4-meter distance, all while reducing lens volume by 44% without sacrificing resolution. Aura supports native 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) spatial tracking, gesture interaction, and environmental awareness.
Project Aura is the second official device to support Google’s Android XR platform, following Samsung’s Moohan. It promises a seamless Android experience and supports both standard Android apps and XR-specific content developed for Moohan, enabling cross-device compatibility for developers.
Google XR Product Director Juston Payne emphasized the role of multimodal AI in transforming human-computer interaction, noting that XR’s future relies on ecosystem collaboration, not individual players. Aura aims to serve a wide range of tasks, from entertainment to productivity.
XREAL CEO Xu Chi described Project Aura as a lightweight, wired, cinema-grade AR device with AI capabilities, positioning it as a new gateway to AI-powered interaction. At AWE, XREAL also launched a new enterprise strategy—XREAL for Enterprise—marking a significant expansion beyond consumer markets.
This initiative includes custom solutions, 24/7 technical support, hardware upgrades, and SDK access for enterprise customers. The company is targeting sectors such as manufacturing and services, which are increasingly demanding AR solutions. Global enterprise demand for AR glasses is forecast to grow 20%–30% annually over the next few years.
XREAL, which has sold nearly 600,000 AR glasses since its founding eight years ago, is now aiming to scale its B2B presence. The company is collaborating with tech giants like Nvidia, Qualcomm, and AWS to connect with industry partners and develop tailored AR deployments.
As Google reaffirms its commitment to AR with a robust hardware and platform offering, the next challenge lies in building a sustainable content ecosystem. Developer registration for Aura is now open, with a mass-market version expected later this year.
