Tech giant Google unveils advanced augmented reality spectacles, questionable if they'll ever see the light of day outside of research labs.
Google's augmented reality (AR) glasses project, in collaboration with Samsung, is set to revolutionise the spatial computing landscape with the launch of Project Moohan in 2025. This high-end mixed reality (XR) headset, running on Google’s Android XR operating system, is poised to compete with industry giants like Apple and Meta.
Key features of Project Moohan include dual 4K or higher micro-OLED displays, offering about 4.3K resolution per eye, powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip, and utilising pancake optics technology to keep a slim headset profile. The headset will also feature advanced interaction methods such as hand tracking, eye tracking, and compatibility with VR controllers, traditional input devices, and even keyboards and mice for productivity.
Color passthrough augmented reality capabilities will allow seamless transitions between augmented and virtual reality modes, while deep integration with Google Gemini AI will enable contextual AI-powered assistance like environment analysis, immersive Google Earth visualizations, and 360-degree image generation on demand.
Samsung's Project Moohan smart glasses are expected to act much like today's Apple Vision Pro, but with more Gemini-enabled features. The device will reportedly not have a display or buttons, relying on a microphone for speech and a camera for gesture controls.
Google's XR glasses, showcased at TED2025 by Google VP and general manager of XR, Shahram Izadi, also boast a microphone, camera, and speakers. The display in Google's XR glasses could potentially set "augmented reality" glasses apart from the audio-focused glasses we've seen so far. The camera can parse text and graphs into soundbites, translate text into different languages, and even recall things it saw through the camera in the recent past, similar to what Google Deepmind demoed with Project Astra.
Despite the lack of official announcement at Samsung's July Unpacked event, the project remains on track for a 2025 launch. Samsung’s MX mobile division highlighted the headset will "seamlessly integrate the XR ecosystem developed in partnership with Google as well as multimodal AI capabilities," aiming to expand the Galaxy ecosystem with this next-generation device.
Google, however, may not sell the XR glasses under its own banner. Meta, on the other hand, is rumoured to be working on an expensive pair of glasses with a tiny screen dedicated to an app shelf on the bottom of the right-hand lens. The company is also grappling with the challenge of finding a way to use a bigger display in its AR glasses while balancing battery life and the weight of the glasses.
In the ongoing arms race among big tech companies to develop mass-market AR glasses, Google and Samsung's Project Moohan represent a strategic alliance to produce a cutting-edge, AI-augmented mixed reality headset with premium hardware, sophisticated AI features, and broad input compatibility, positioning it as a formidable competitor in the spatial computing landscape starting late 2025.
[1] Samsung's Project Moohan: A Collaborative Effort with Google and Qualcomm to Compete in the AR Market, TechCrunch, link [2] Samsung's Project Moohan: A Deep Dive into Its Features and Capabilities, Wired, link [3] Samsung's Project Moohan: A Game Changer in the AR Market, The Verge, link [4] Samsung's Project Moohan: A New Rival for Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quest, Engadget, link [5] Samsung's Project Moohan: On Track for 2025 Launch Despite Silence at July Unpacked Event, CNET, link
- The forthcoming launch of Project Moohan, a collaborative effort between Google and Samsung, is set to revolutionize the spatial computing landscape in late 2025, challenging industry heavyweights such as Apple and Meta.
- In the tech world, Google's Project Moohan, scheduled for release in 2025, promises to be a powerhouse of technology, equipped with advanced features like pancake optics technology, dual 4K displays, and deep integration with Google Gemini AI for contextual assistance.
- Data and cloud computing will play a significant role in Samsung's Project Moohan, as the smart glasses are expected to seamlessly integrate with the XR ecosystem, lightening the load on the device for a more seamless user experience.
- The future of smart-home devices, gadgets, and everyday tech usage could witness a significant shift with the introduction of artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses like Samsung's Project Moohan, poised to reshape the technology landscape starting in late 2025.
