Magic Leap, the AR firm has joined forces with Google to introduce a new pair of Android XR smart glasses, the first prototype of which it refers to as a “reference design for the Android XR ecosystem.” Magic Leap says the new glasses combine Magic Leap’s new waveguides and optics with Google’s Raxium microLED light engine, giving users a wearable suitable for all-day use.
The frames on these smart glasses are thicker than most ordinary eyeglasses, but not so thick as to look unusual. Early images appear to show a camera embedded in the frames, but Magic Leap hasn’t mentioned one yet.
Magic Leap and Google have a history in AR, but previous hardware launches didn’t exactly achieve big commercial success. Magic Leap One, launched in 2018 for $2,295, sold only 6,000 units in six months before being discontinued. Google Glass, revealed in 2014, was abandoned as privacy and usability problems emerged.
In 2025, technology companies like Apple, Meta, and quite a few startups are racing to create AR glasses that can be effective enough to replace smartphones. For now, Magic Leap and Google say their prototype represents their hopes for an AR future in which wearable devices offer users real utility and comfort. Neither company has said when the device should become available to consumers (if ever), but the partnership extends through the next three years.
