After many months of speculation, Google finally showed off its still-early-day Android XR smart glasses prototype. It was an impressive live demo, with a live translation portion that went off well but not without hitches. Still, it got the crowd at Google I/O going, and right after that opening keynote wrapped, I strolled around the Shoreline Amphitheater to find a pair to try.
Much like my time with Project Moohan, the prototype Android XR headset that Google and Samsung are working on, I only spent about five minutes with these prototype glasses. And no, it wasn’t a sleek frame made by Warby Parker or a wild one from Gentle Monsters – instead, it was the pair Google demoed on-stage, the prototype Android XR glasses made by Samsung.
As you can see above, much like Meta Ray-Bans and unlike Snapchat Spectacles (the first gen), these prototypes look like standard black frames. They're a bit thicker on either the left or right stems, but they’re also loaded with tech – though not in a way that screams it from the outside.
It was a short, pretty rushed demo, but certainly a compelling one.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)The tech here is mostly hidden – there is a screen baked into the lens, which, when worn, appears as a little box when it’s showing something larger. Otherwise, when I first turned the glasses on, I saw the time and the weather hovering at the top of my field of vision.
When I pressed the button on the right stem to capture a photo, it almost flashed transparently larger in my field of vision. Neat and a bit more present way of capturing than on the screen-less Meta Ray-Bans.
These are both cool, and during the keynote, Google also shared that the screens could be used for messaging, calls, and translating as well, but I didn’t get to try that. While I couldn’t ask for directions myself, a Google rep within my demo was able to toss up what navigation would like, and this feature has me more excited about smart glasses with a screen built-in.
Why? Well, it was that the experience of navigating doesn’t get in the way of my field of view – I can simply still look straight forward and see at the top that in 500-feet or 50-feet that I need to make a right onto a specific avenue. I don’t need to look down at my phone or glance at my wrist, it’s all housed in just one device.
If I need more details or want to see my route, I could glance down to see a mini version of the map, which moved as I moved my head. If I wore these in NYC, I could walk normally and glance at the top to see directions, but when safely stopped and not in the way of others, I could look down to see my full route. That’s pretty neat to me.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)The projected screen itself had good-enough quality, though I’m not sure how it performs in direct sunlight, as I tested these in a little room that Google had constructed. It’s important to remember that this is still a prototype – Google has several brands onboard to produce these, but there isn’t an exact timeframe. Developers will be able to start developing and testing by the end of the year, though.
This year, the Project Moohan headset, which also runs Android XR, will arrive. Samsung will ship the headset in a to-be-revealed final version, which could build support from third parties and let Google get more feedback on the platform.
Gemini, Google’s very wise AI assistant, blew me away on Project Moohan and was equally compelling on the Android XR glasses. I asked it for the weather, and got it to give me an audio report of the next few days, had it analyze a replica of a painting, and even look at a book, tell me the reviews, and where I could purchase it.
That power of having Gemini in my frame has me really excited for the future of the category – it’s the audio responses, the connection to the Google ecosystem, and how it plays with the onboard screen. It remains to be seen how Samsung’s final design might look, but it will likely sit alongside several other Android XR-powered smart glasses from the likes of Warby Parker, X-Real, and Gentle Monster, among others.
I’ve long worn Meta Ray-Bans and enjoy those for snapping unique shots or recording POVs like walking my dog Rosie or riding an attraction at a Disney Park. Similarly, I really enjoyed the original version of the Snapchat Spectacles, but the appeal wore off. Those both did only a short – or in the case of the Spectacles, very short – list of functions, but Android XR as a platform feels a heck of a lot more powerful, even from a short five-minute window.
While the design didn’t sell me on Samsung’s prototype, I have high hopes for the Warby Parker ones. Seeing how Gemini’s smarts can fit into such a small frame and how a screen can be genuinely useful but not overly distracting really has me excited. I have a feeling not all of the Android XR glasses will appeal to everyone, but with enough entries, I’m sure one of them will pair form with function in a correct balance.
Gemini in glasses feels less like the future, and considering this new entry, my eyes are set to see what Meta's does next and what Apple's much-rumored entry into the world of smart glasses will look like.
You might also likeTwopan has launched the Nano SSD, a compact USB-C storage device with a built-in fingerprint reader, a feature we’d love to see more storage makers offer.
Weighing just 5g and the size of a stick of gum, the Twopan Nano SSD measures 20 x 13 x 5mm and offers 512GB of high-speed storage in a keychain-friendly design.
The product’s main appeal is, naturally, the biometric security it offers. The device supports up to 20 fingerprints and doesn't require apps or software. Twopan says plug it in and it just works.
Broad compatibilityThe Nano SSD connects via a USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 port and will work with devices like iPhone 15/16 Pro, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, Steam Deck, PS5, and Canon and Sony cameras that support USB-C file transfer.
It supports direct 4K and HD recording on the newest iPhone Pro models using HEVC (H.265) at 60fps, making it a good choice for content creators working in high-resolution formats.
It is also compatible with Android phones from Samsung and Google, offering wide usability without the need for adapters or extra cables.
Twopan says it fits into phone cases that are 3mm thick or less, making it even easier to use on the go without removing protection.
Despite its tiny size, the Nano SSD delivers up to 450MB/s read and write speeds. It’s water and dust resistant with an IP65 rating and is drop-tested for up to 10 meters. The casing is made from aluminum and shockproof plastic, offering additional durability for users who travel or work outdoors.
Twopan Nano SSD is currently live on Kickstarter with a retail price around $99. The creators were seeking $1,277 in funding and managed to pull in over $197,000 from more than 1,600 backers. Shipping is expected in August 2025.
Like most crowdfunded hardware, there’s always a chance for delays or changes. But if it delivers on promises, this could well be one of the most secure portable drives around.
You might also likeAnother Netflix library reshuffle is about to happen and, while we're excited to see the return of Squid Game season 3, aka one of the best Netflix shows, we mustn't forget about the movies being removed from the streamer's back catalog.
Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy stands out like a sore thumb among the films leaving Netflix this June, and you don't have too long left to catch them as they'll vanish come June 1. The same goes for these three movies with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, so catch some of the best Netflix movies (from a third-party perspective, anyway) before they depart.
TV shows are usually up for the chopping block, too, but seasons 1 to 3 of The Equalizer is the only casualty of the best streaming service's June 2025 culling. So, TV buffs can sit back without worrying that your favorite shows will be axed.
Everything leaving Netflix in June 2025Leaving on June 1
Batman Begins (movie)
Beginners (movie)
Burlesque (movie)
Closer (movie)
Cult of Chucky (movie)
Daddy Day Care (movie)
The Dark Knight (movie)
The Dark Knight Rises (movie)
Den of Thieves (movie)
From Prada to Nada (movie)
GoodFellas (movie)
Ma (movie)
Magic Mike XXL (movie)
Pride & Prejudice (movie)
Ted (movie)
Ted 2 (movie)
Two Weeks Notice (movie)
Leaving on June 11
Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story (movie)
Trap (movie)
Leaving on June 14
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (movie)
Leaving on June 16
The Equalizer seasons 1-3 (TV show)
Won't You Be My Neighbor? (movie)
Leaving on June 17
Carol (movie)
Leaving on June 19
Migration (movie)
Leaving on June 21
American Sniper (movie)
Leaving on June 22
Brain on Fire (movie)
Leaving on June 26
Ordinary People (movie)
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