XREAL Unveils 'Project Aura' at Google I/O — An Optical See-Through XR Device for Android XR

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

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, through the Riyadh Art Program, has announced the opening of the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 Exhibition, showcasing completed artworks from the 7th edition of the annual international Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium. The exhibition will take place from February 9 to February 22, 2026, on Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street (Al Tahlia) in Riyadh and is open to the public free of charge.

Held under the theme Traces of What Will Be, this year's edition explores transformation as both a material process and a condition shaped by the city's evolution, reflecting Riyadh's ongoing renewal. The Al Tahlia site holds historical significance as the location of Riyadh's early water desalination stations, grounding the exhibition within a legacy of innovation, adaptation, and the pursuit of improved quality of life. This context provides a conceptual framework for the works on view.

The exhibition features 25 new large scale sculptures completed during the live sculpting phase, held from January 10 to February 5, 2026, allowing the public to witness the artistic process as it unfolded. Working with locally sourced stone and reclaimed metal, the artists transformed raw materials into finished works, emphasizing process, durability, and material intelligence within the public realm.

The 7th edition of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium and Exhibition brings together Saudi and international artists from 18 countries, selected from more than 650 applications representing 50 countries worldwide through a specialized international jury. The participating artworks present diverse artistic interpretations of the symposium's theme, addressing ideas of memory, responsible use of resources, environmental innovation, and the impact of human intervention within natural and urban contexts.

The curatorial framework for Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 is overseen by Lulwa Alhomoud, Sarah Staton, and Rut Blees Luxemburg, whose combined expertise in public art, spatial practice, and contemporary visual culture has informed the development of works that engage closely with material, site, and future possibilities.

An interactive program accompanies the exhibition, including workshops, panel talks, and educational visits. This program reinforces the commitment of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium to operate as an open cultural platform that encourages community participation and supports awareness of contemporary art.

All artworks produced during the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 edition will join the permanent Riyadh Art Collection and will be installed at prominent public locations across the city in the future, extending the program's impact beyond the exhibition period and integrating contemporary sculpture into public spaces across Riyadh.

Since its launch in 2019, the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium has brought together more than 170 local and international artists, with each edition contributing new works to Riyadh Art's Permanent Collection. To date, over 60 sculptures from past editions have been permanently installed across the city, with additional works scheduled for installation in future phases, reflecting the program's long-term approach to expanding public art across Riyadh.

The Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 Exhibition is open to the public free of charge from February 9 to February 22, 2026, on Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street (Al Tahlia) in Riyadh.

For more information, please visit: riyadhart.rcrc.gov.sa/en/tuwaiq-sculpture

 

 

 

 

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Opening of the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 Exhibition Marks Seventh Edition

Opening of the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 Exhibition Marks Seventh Edition

Opening of the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 Exhibition Marks Seventh Edition

Opening of the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 Exhibition Marks Seventh Edition

Opening of the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 Exhibition Marks Seventh Edition