Wondering what’s so special about Android XR? Architecture is a good place to start. Google might not be the first major tech company to build an extended reality ecosystem. But it’s taking a very different approach to its competitors – one focused on flexibility, and open standards.
While companies like Apple lock organizations and developers into walled gardens, Google is opening the door to an AI-native playground designed to support any workflow or device.
The modular, agnostic, and versatile architecture builds on the back of Android, but gives designers and developers the freedom to start from the tools they already use (like Unity or OpenXR) and scale however they choose. Here’s what really makes Android XR different.
Android XR Architecture: The Foundations
Android XR, Google’s open XR operating system isn’t just a side project in Google’s roadmap. It’s a core component of the Android landscape. Introduced at a time when Meta and Apple are fighting for dominance with their own operating systems, Android XR is a deliberate pivot towards XR democratization and accessibility.
Unlike Apple’s VisionOS, which is locked to a single headset and dev toolchain, or Meta’s Horizon platform, which still mostly relies on Meta hardware, Android XR is open by design. It integrates seamlessly with the existing Android roadmap, including phones, tablets, app development tools, and third-party solutions and systems.
It’s also modular. Developers can mix and match the features they want, using pre-built spatial UI, 3D models, Gemini AI, and Jetpack libraries, alongside other features. What you end up with is an Android XR architecture that prioritizes:
Completely Modular Architecture
XR development strategies aren’t one-size-fits-all. Retail companies don’t need to access the same features and capabilities as hospitals. The Android XR ecosystem means every layer of your system can be customized.
You can add and remove the capabilities you want, like eye tracking, hand mesh, and now even passthrough video. You can choose a Gemini model or integrate your own, connect the Android or Google Play apps you already use – and so on. Developers can also build for different devices, from smart glasses to XR headsets and spatial computing platforms.
The system also supports dynamic scene understanding, light estimation, and 3D spatial anchoring – built to adapt to real-world environments.
Open Standards and Dev Tools
Developers building on top of the Android XR architecture have a world of options. They can start with familiar tools, like the Android XR SDK, Kotlin and Android Studio, and Jetpack libraries. If they want to develop on the web, they can use WebXR, or if they’re looking for full flexibility, Android XR supports OpenXR natively – a major win for interoperability.
Open XR enables comprehensive portability and versatility, allowing developers to build applications once and deploy them across various platforms, without re-programming.
Google has also partnered with Unity on an Android XR package, and supports countless visual design tools, 3D models, and file formats. Plus, because it ties into the Play Store, apps can be distributed at scale, with updates and telemetry baked in.
Pre-Integrated AI Experiences
Google believes in a future of AI and XR convergence – so it’s no surprise that Gemini is a big part of the Android XR architecture. Gemini models can quickly connect with apps and experiences built with Android XR, paving the way for spatial computing interactions, voice, gaze, and gesture control, real-time translation and AI assistants.
Google has already showcased a public demonstration of its smart glasses operating system, demonstrating how XR and artificial intelligence can work together to support countless use cases, from assisting field workers to improving customer service.
While Meta has its own AI solutions, Google could have an edge in this area, thanks to the rapid development of Gemini models.
Android XR Architecture: True Hardware Flexibility
Part of what makes Android XR so impressive is that it’s not just flexible from a software or programming language perspective. Google hasn’t just created an operating system for its own hardware, or a select number of partners. It’s empowering everyone.
Smart glasses. VR headsets. AR phones. Tablets. Future wearables. If it can run Android, it can potentially run AndroidXR. Take Project Moohan, for example. This is Google and Samsung’s upcoming XR headset, reportedly blending the ergonomic design of Meta Quest with the visual clarity of Apple Vision Pro.
But that’s just the beginning. Google’s also partnering with Qualcomm, Magic Leap, and others. The flexibility goes beyond hardware. Android XR supports Bluetooth accessories, external displays, spatial controllers, and beyond. This lets enterprises match the right form factor to the right task.
If you’re already using Android phones or tablets in your business, you’ve got a launchpad, perfect for rolling out new experiences in phases.
Accelerating Innovation in XR
Ultimately, many businesses and developers are keen to join the XR revolution, but they don’t want to start from scratch. Android XR offers the freedom to start building where you are, and innovate at a pace that suits you. You don’t have to be locked into a single pipeline, programming language, or even end-user device.
Thanks to the pre-built features already available from Google, like the AI-powered hand mesh solution, detailed depth textures, and more, you also don’t need to start from scratch. Companies can even publish apps on a familiar platform (the Google Play Store), taking advantage of automatic updates, monetization tools, and deep analytics. Track usage with Play Console Insights. A/B test features. You could even patch bugs without sideloading nightmares.
More importantly, Android XR is built to be enterprise-ready. While Google hasn’t built a “Meta Quest for Business” style service yet – it is empowering companies (hardware and software developers) to design their own, with easy integrations for MDM solutions, access controls, security and privacy features.
Companies will potentially be able to roll out headsets like phones, manage access like they would on any other device, and enforce compliance from a single pane of glass.
Android XR Architecture: The Backbone of Open, Scalable XR
Most XR platforms require companies to choose between flexibility or power, open systems or enterprise-ready workflows. Android XR is something else. It’s an open-source, developer-friendly, and enterprise-tuned solution intended to change the future of immersive tech.
It might still be in the early stages, but we’re already beginning to see evidence of this platform’s potential. Google has released prototype insights into its smart glasses operating system, and news about Samsung’s XR headset is rolling out month after month.
Google could finally introduce us to a future where XR innovation and adoption can happen at scale. Forget vendor lock-in, you’ll soon be able to tailor every XR experience to your exact needs, whether you’re integrating new headsets with enterprise IT systems or developing your own in-house applications. Want to learn more?
Ready to learn more? Check out our full guide to Android XR here.
