This is our best look yet at Google's Android XR smart glasses

Spatial computing demos might look cool on stage, but slipping them into everyday life still hits a major snag. Even as headsets get lighter, anything that wraps around your head and blocks your real-world view just feels weird and disconnected, not to mention a little risky. If XR (extended reality) is really going to take off, it needs to look and feel just like your regular pair of glasses.

One major tech player that's trying to shake up the status quo is Google, which has been diving into the full XR lineup. While Samsung's Project Moohan headset may have grabbed headlines when Google first dropped news of its Android XR push, the search giant's plans go way beyond just headsets. The company is aiming to bring XR smarts to regular-looking glasses too, and early prototypes are already giving us a glimpse of what that could actually look like.

These early Android XR glasses got their first public demo last April at the TED Conference in Vancouver , where Android XR lead Shahram Izadi hit the stage wearing what looked like a prototype pair. Now, a developer has shared a sneak peek (via Android Authority ) of the companion app built for the glasses, showing off some of the settings and features baked into the connected experience.

As seen in the image below (which we rotated for a better perspective), the Android XR smart glasses prototype is internally known as "Google Martha." The companion app reveals sections like Notifications and Settings, but what they contain is still under wraps. What really stands out, though, is a "Record your view" feature, letting users capture video straight from their line of sight.

Gemini's secret sauce: Seeing what you see

Of course, these smart glasses come with built-in cameras, which is pretty much a must-have since Gemini, Android XR's main assistant, needs to see the world through your eyes. While voice commands are central, Gemini's tricks lie in understanding what you're looking at. These visual smarts unlock handy tricks like spotting where you last left your keys or breaking down diagrams in a book right in front of you.

From what has been shown so far, these smart glasses keep things refreshingly low-key despite all the tech packed inside. Unlike bulkier smart glass options like Xreal's, which often rock tinted or semi-opaque lenses for their displays, Google's prototype keeps the lenses crystal-clear. That means you can see the world naturally, and people can still make proper eye contact with you. Even with the slim, subtle design, the glasses sneak in a small display that floats info off to the side, so your main view stays distraction-free.

This version of the smart glasses is still just a prototype, so don't expect to grab a pair anytime soon. But it lays the groundwork for what's coming next. With "Martha" setting the stage, it's looking more and more likely that consumer-ready smart glasses built on this tech aren't too far off.