MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- XREAL today announced a strategic partnership with Google to expand the ecosystem of spatial computing devices built on Android XR. As part of this collaboration, XREAL unveiled Project Aura at the Google I/O developer conference — XREAL's next-generation extended reality (XR) device designed specifically for the Android XR platform.
Project Aura is the second official device announced for Android XR and marks a major milestone for the platform: the introduction of an optical see-through (OST) XR device. A lightweight and tethered, cinematic, and Gemini AI-powered device, Project Aura brings a large field-of-view experience to the Android XR family — setting a new standard for immersive, wearable computing.
This collaboration also includes Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., bringing together leading innovation across hardware, silicon, and software to build the next wave of XR experiences. Project Aura uses XREAL's proven track record in lightweight XR hardware, the Android XR software stack, and Qualcomm Technologies' Snapdragon® XR chipsets optimized for spatial computing.
"Google is thrilled to welcome XREAL to the Android XR family and to build great XR experiences on Project Aura," said Shahram Izadi, General Manager and Vice President of XR at Google. "Android XR is the first Android platform built in the Gemini era, and it will support a rich ecosystem of immersive devices, both Virtual see-through (VST) and Optical see-through (OST). By combining our platform with XREAL's leadership in portable XR hardware, we're expanding spatial experiences to OST form-factors that are truly intuitive and accessible, representing a pivotal moment in our ecosystem."
"At XREAL, we've always pushed the boundaries of what XR hardware can do — combining performance, comfort, and design into something people can wear every day," said Chi Xu, Co-founder and CEO of XREAL. "Partnering with Google on Android XR takes this vision to the next level. Project Aura reflects the power of this collaboration — merging a robust platform with advanced chipsets and our expertise in optical systems. We believe this is a breakthrough moment for real-world XR."
"Qualcomm Technologies is excited to have Snapdragon play a significant role in XREAL's new Android XR solution," said Ziad Asghar, Senior Vice President and General Manager of XR at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the expansion of the Android XR ecosystem. Working with XREAL, Snapdragon allows amazing immersive experiences to come to life in a unique optical see-through product. We are thrilled to see immersive experiences coming to more verticals opening up new possibilities for both consumers and developers."
The unveiling of Project Aura marks a call-to-action for developers. XREAL, Google, and Qualcomm Technologies invite the developer community to begin envisioning new applications and use cases for this next generation of XR. Developers already building for headsets on the platform will be able to easily bring their apps to Project Aura.
While Project Aura makes its public debut today, further details will be announced at Augmented World Expo (AWE) in June 2025, and later this year.
To learn more about Project Aura and stay updated, please visit: xreal.com/aura.
About XREAL
XREAL is a global leader in augmented reality, creating lightweight AR glasses and spatial computing platforms that blend the digital and physical worlds. Known for its XREAL Air series and Nebula interface, the company is expanding into enterprise and AI-powered experiences — backed by collaborations with Google, Qualcomm Technologies, and a global developer ecosystem.
For Media
Contact: Ralph.Jodice@XREAL.com or press@google.com
Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
XREAL Unveils 'Project Aura' at Google I/O — An Optical See-Through XR Device for Android XR
The Initiative Aims to Address the Pain Points of Family Filmmaking
BEIJING, Dec. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 6th, the 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival opened in Beijing. SmallRig, a global specialized provider of imaging solutions, collaborating with FamilyLens, is empowering family filmmaking through various initiatives, including the Family Filmmaking Co-Creation Initiative, a dedicated family filmmaking kit, and a social impact screening program.
Deepening the "Co-Creation Initiatives"
The Co-Creation Initiatives are a series of global creative initiatives open to filmmakers and image creators worldwide. Through deep collaboration across multiple dimensions — including product co-creation, discovery and promotion, and content co-creation — SmallRig aims to expand the boundaries of mobile filmmaking and bring the spirit of Free Your Dream to life with creators everywhere.
Following the launch of the Mobile Filmmaking Co-Creation Initiative at the 14th International Smartphone Film Festival, SmallRig announced the launch of the Family Filmmaking Co-Creation Initiative on December 6th at the 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival. The initiative invites global creators and every family to participate, focusing on three core directions: product co-creation, work promotion, and content co-creation, to explore the possibilities of family filmmaking for everyone.
Mr. Zhou Yang, Founder and CEO of SmallRig, shared the inspiration for the initiative: "The initiative is rooted in the immense universality and profound emotional depth inherent in family narratives, which serve as a common emotional bond connecting global audiences. We firmly believe that in this era, where everyone can be a content creator, every family can and should film their own story. The instinct to create is deeply embedded in the human spirit, and every home is the origin of countless narratives."
Gu Xue, Founder and Director of the FamilyLens International Film Festival, stated: "We hope that people and practitioners around the world who care about family movies can find suitable solutions and gain insights from the Co-Creation Initiatives. We look forward to more and more people exploring the field of 'Home' together through this initiative."
To address the pain points of family filmmaking, SmallRig officially released the SmallRig Family Filmmaking Kit at the opening ceremony. The kit includes a high-quality microphone, fill light, and a portable tripod, specifically designed to achieve "professional function democratization" and "complex feature simplification." During the FamilyLens Workshop, attendees experienced the convenience of the equipment firsthand. Many expressed that the kit truly solves many problems, enabling ordinary families to complete necessary filming without specialized photography knowledge.
Social Impact Screening Program
The 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival is open to the public from December 6th to 14th. The festival opened with the screening of well-received documentary: K-Family Affairs. In addition to the competition section, the festival features several distinctive sections, including the Reframing Home Movies— An Italian Retrospective, Youth Film Program, Filmmaker in Focus, and the Social Impact Program. Four major awards, such as the Real-Life Portrait Award and the Artistic Exploration Award, will also be presented.
As a key component of the Co-Creation Initiatives, the SmallRig Image Development Fund partnered with the FamilyLens International Film Festival to curate the "Social Impact Screening Program." This unit focuses on elevating awareness of critical issues within the family unit, advocating for a new reflection: "Starting with Seeing, Concluding with Understanding."
Arum Nam, Director of K-Family Affairs, stated:
"Starting with the stories of your family, your friends, and yourself, I believe this personal narrative can connect directly to the bigger society."
SmallRig believes that truly meaningful social impact storytelling stems from awareness in proximity—achieved by using the lens to penetrate the daily surface and enabling a deep, empathetic "Seeing with Empathy."
The four featured works in this unit are:
- People of the Ascent
- Granny's Lost and Found
- Ruixi at Fourteen
- No Country For My Maternal Grandma
These films highlight four family issues that require "seeing": the yearning of left-behind children, the mental isolation of Alzheimer's patients, the elderly searching for subjectivity in their drifting lives, and the emotional volatility and struggle of Bipolar Disorder.
Strategic Outlook and Future Expansion
SmallRig will continue to support the Family Filmmaking Co-Creation Initiative's deep development through promotional campaigns and practical workshops focused on family movie scenarios.
The overall goal of SmallRig's Global Co-creation Initiative is to continuously explore and meet the growing, diverse needs of global creators across different vertical domains. SmallRig is committed to persistently expanding the co-creation model into more imaging sectors, collaborating with industry partners to push the boundaries of imaging and grant global creators broader creative freedom.
About SmallRig
Founded in 2013, SmallRig is an innovation-driven global company that designs and manufactures comprehensive support solutions and accessories for all content creation needs. Trusted by over four million creators globally, SmallRig pioneered the User Co-creation Design (UCD) philosophy and the DreamRig Program.
For more information, visit: www.smallrig.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
SmallRig and FamilyLens Launch Global Family Filmmaking Initiative at 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival
SmallRig and FamilyLens Launch Global Family Filmmaking Initiative at 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival
SmallRig and FamilyLens Launch Global Family Filmmaking Initiative at 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival
