Android XR Glasses App Leaks Key Camera, Display Features
Google’s long-rumored Android XR glasses just got a lot more real. A newly surfaced “Glasses” companion app—spotted in the latest Android Studio Canary build—offers our clearest look yet at how Google plans to manage camera controls, display settings, and user onboarding for its upcoming smart eyewear. If you’ve been wondering whether Google is truly building its own answer to Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories, this leak strongly suggests: yes, and it’s closer than you think.
The app, identified by Reddit user u/Oguie13 and later confirmed by Android Authority, uses the package name com.google.android.glasses.companion. While it currently appears as a placeholder without actual hardware to pair with, its interface and code snippets reveal critical details about Google’s vision for wearable computing. Notably, the app mimics several features already seen in Meta’s smart glasses—hinting that Google may be playing catch-up while refining its own differentiated experience.
What the Android XR Glasses App Reveals About Setup
Upon opening the app, users are greeted with a clean, minimalist graphic of a generic pair of smart glasses. A prompt reads: “Set up your Glasses now, or discover your next pair on the Google Store.” Interestingly, the “Google Store” button is greyed out—likely because the hardware hasn’t launched yet. This suggests Google is preparing both software and retail pathways well in advance of a public release, possibly targeting a 2026 or early 2027 debut.
The app also references a physical power switch or button on the glasses themselves—a practical detail often overlooked in early concept renders. This small but crucial inclusion signals that Google is deep into industrial design and user interaction planning, not just software prototyping.
Camera Controls Mirror Meta—but With a Google Twist
One of the most telling sections of the app is its camera settings menu. Users will reportedly be able to choose how photos and videos are imported: manually, automatically, or only while charging. This flexibility caters to privacy-conscious users who may want tighter control over when media leaves their device—a growing concern in the age of always-on wearables.
Even more revealing? Video clips can be set between 30 seconds and 3 minutes in length—the exact same range offered by Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories. But Google isn’t just copying: code snippets suggest support for 1080p recording as standard, with an “experimental” 3K mode tucked away for future use. That higher-resolution option could give Google’s glasses a visual edge if battery and thermal constraints allow it at launch.
Privacy Safeguards Already Built In
Privacy appears to be top of mind. An embedded audio clip within the app states, “Can’t capture when the front LED is covered.” This implies that, like Meta’s glasses, Google’s version will include a visible indicator (likely an LED) that lights up during recording—and that covering it physically disables capture. It’s a clever hardware-software handshake designed to reassure bystanders and comply with social norms around covert recording.
This feature aligns with Google’s recent emphasis on responsible AI and ethical hardware design. As regulators scrutinize wearable cameras more closely, such built-in safeguards could help Google avoid the backlash that plagued earlier smart glasses like Google Glass.
Display and Companion Experience Take Shape
While details about the actual display remain scarce, the app’s structure hints at a companion-driven model. Most settings—including camera preferences, connectivity, and firmware updates—appear to be managed through the phone-based app rather than on-device menus. This approach reduces complexity on the glasses themselves, preserving battery life and keeping the form factor sleek.
Given Google’s strength in cloud services and Android integration, we can expect seamless syncing with Google Photos, Assistant, and Maps. Imagine glancing at a landmark and getting contextual info overlaid via subtle audio cues or haptic feedback—all orchestrated through this companion app.
Why This Leak Matters Now
This isn’t just another APK teardown. The fact that the app is appearing in official Android Studio Canary builds—tools used by developers testing next-gen Android features—means Google is preparing third-party developers for an ecosystem play. Unlike the original Google Glass, which struggled with developer adoption, Android XR seems built from the ground up for extensibility.
Moreover, the timing is strategic. With Apple’s Vision Pro proving the market for premium spatial computing—and Meta pushing affordable smart glasses—Google needs a credible entry. Android XR glasses could bridge the gap between smartphone convenience and immersive tech, especially if priced accessibly.
How Android XR Fits Into Google’s Bigger Vision
Google has been quietly assembling the pieces for ambient computing for years: Wear OS, Pixel Buds, Nest, and now AR-enabled smartphones like the Pixel 9 Pro. Android XR glasses would be the natural culmination—a hands-free, eyes-up interface that blends digital context with the real world.
Unlike bulky headsets, these glasses appear designed for all-day wear. That positions them not as gaming or productivity gadgets, but as lifestyle devices—perfect for navigation, quick captures, or subtle notifications. For Google, whose business thrives on contextual awareness, this is the ultimate data-and-delivery platform.
What’s Still Missing?
Despite the detailed app interface, key questions remain unanswered. What will the glasses look like? Who’s manufacturing them—Google itself or a partner like Luxottica (which works with Meta)? And perhaps most importantly: what will they cost? Without answers, it’s hard to gauge mainstream appeal.
Battery life, field of view, and voice assistant responsiveness will also make or break the experience. But the presence of this polished companion app suggests those hardware decisions are already locked in—or close to it.
A Quiet Signal of Google’s Comeback in Wearables
After the stumble of Google Glass a decade ago, many wrote off the company’s ambitions in wearable displays. But this leak shows Google hasn’t abandoned the vision—it’s refined it. By focusing first on utility (camera, notifications) rather than full AR overlays, Google may finally deliver a product people actually want to wear daily.
The emphasis on privacy, seamless Android integration, and developer readiness all point to a mature, thoughtful approach. If executed well, Android XR glasses could become the quiet hero of Google’s hardware lineup—less flashy than a Pixel phone, but far more transformative in the long run.
What to Watch Next
Keep an eye on Google I/O 2026 this May. If the company follows its usual playbook, that’s where we’ll see the first official demo—or even a pre-order announcement. Until then, this app leak is the strongest evidence yet that Google’s next big thing won’t be in your hand… but on your face.
