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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Mark Spoonauer

I just tried Google's Android XR glasses — and Meta and Apple are in trouble

Google Apple Meta Android Google Maps Samsung Gemini Xreal
Android XR glasses .

So I’m chatting with Google Gemini while wearing a pair of Android XR smart glasses, and I tell the assistant to brighten up an image before I’ve even taken the pic. Gemini happily obliges. I also ask for directions for a nearby restaurant and Google Maps shows me turn-by-turn directions right in my field of view. And when I look down briefly I can see the whole map to reorient myself.

This is just scratching the surface of what these Android XR glasses can do. The ones I tested are a prototype from Google, but the glasses are coming out for real in 2026 through partners like Samsung, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.

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