Overview: A Trio of Major Updates from Google

Google has unveiled a sweeping set of updates across its ecosystem, introducing Android 17, Wear OS 7, and the upcoming Android XR platform for smart glasses. These releases focus on enhancing multitasking, extending battery life, and bridging the gap between phones, watches, and wearable displays. With Android 17 rolling out to Pixel phones today, Wear OS 7 arriving on compatible watches, and Android XR devices like the Xreal Aura glasses now available for preorder, Google is positioning itself to compete directly with Apple’s ecosystem and Meta’s mixed-reality ambitions.

Android 17 is the most significant operating system update in years, introducing a feature called “Bubbles” — floating app windows that users can open with a long press. This brings desktop-like multitasking to mobile devices, especially on foldable phones and tablets, where a dedicated bubble bar at the bottom of the screen makes it easy to switch between apps. Additionally, Android 17 includes a 50/50 split gaming mode for foldables, native controller remapping, a Screen Reaction recording mode, and a new “Continue On” feature that resembles Apple’s Handoff, allowing users to start tasks on their phone and finish them on a tablet. Privacy improvements include one-time location sharing and persistent location access indicators.

Wear OS 7, meanwhile, brings Live Updates to smartwatches, syncing real-time information like sports scores, delivery tracking, and AI-generated task reminders directly from the phone to the wrist. Battery life receives a promised 10% boost over Wear OS 6, and the platform introduces Wear Widgets — more glanceable home screen layouts that mirror Android’s 2x1 and 2x2 widget formats. Later this year, select watches will gain Gemini Intelligence, an AI-powered personal assistant that learns from user habits.

The third pillar is Android XR, Google’s extended reality platform for headsets and smart glasses. The first device, Samsung’s Galaxy XR headset, launched in late 2025 at $1,799. Now, Google and Xreal have partnered on Project Aura, now renamed the Xreal Aura — a pair of mixed-reality glasses that function as a headset “masquerading as glasses.” Preorders are open for $99 with a $199 credit toward the full launch, expected this fall. Android XR aims to blend smartphone apps with immersive experiences, supporting multiwindow browsing and real-world overlays. Google has also designated Xreal as a lead hardware partner for the next two years.

Android 17: Deep Dive into the Biggest New Features

Android 17 is arriving first on Google’s Pixel phones, with other manufacturers expected to roll out the update throughout 2026. The most visually obvious change is the introduction of Bubbles, which allow apps to behave like floating windows that can be resized, moved, and docked. This is especially useful on foldables and tablets, where the bubble bar provides quick access to recent apps. The feature is similar to floating windows already found in some Android skins, but Google has now standardized it in the core OS, ensuring consistency across devices.

Gaming receives a boost with a new 50/50 split-screen mode designed for foldable phones in landscape orientation. This mode divides the screen exactly in half, placing game controls on the bottom half and the game view on the top half. Native controller remapping is also being added, allowing players to customize button layouts system-wide. However, Google notes that this feature will only roll out “in the coming months.”

Another standout feature is “Continue On,” Google’s answer to Apple’s Handoff. Currently, it allows users to transfer tasks from an Android phone to an Android tablet. For example, if you’re composing an email on your phone, you can pick it up on your tablet by tapping a notification icon in the tablet’s dock. Google says bidirectional support (tablet to phone) will come later. This is enabled by cross-device app handoffs, which work even with web apps that aren’t installed on the second device.

Privacy enhancements include a new one-time location sharing option that lets users grant precise location access “only while using this app” — a middle ground between “always allow” and “deny.” The system will also show a persistent indicator whenever a non-system app accesses location data, even in the background. Another subtle addition is “Pixel Glow,” a light animation on the back of Pixel phones that activates when the device is face down, informing users of notifications, Gemini interactions, or calls from favorite contacts. This hints at new hardware capabilities for the upcoming Pixel 11 series.

Other notable features in Android 17 include AI-generated widgets (vibe-coded via Gemini), improved dictation, an emoji overhaul, and a new screen time tool that helps users avoid distracting apps. Google has also made the update process faster by decoupling some system components from the main OS, allowing for quicker security patches.

Wear OS 7: Smarter, Longer-Lasting Smartwatches

Wear OS 7, rolling out to Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4 starting today, focuses on real-time information and battery efficiency. The marquee feature is Live Updates, which syncs ongoing activities between the watch and phone. This includes sport scores, ride-hailing status, food delivery tracking, and even AI-driven task reminders. The Live Updates appear as persistent notifications that update automatically, reducing the need to pull out the phone.

Battery life gets a welcome boost with Google claiming a 10% improvement over Wear OS 6. This is achieved through more efficient background processes and optimized sensor polling. The platform also introduces Wear Widgets, which are essentially smartwatch versions of Android’s home screen widgets. They come in small and large sizes (2x1 and 2x2) and can display customized information like weather, calendar events, and fitness metrics.

Later this year, Google will roll out Gemini Intelligence to select Wear OS 7 watches. This AI-powered layer will proactively suggest actions based on user context — for instance, offering to start a workout when it detects movement or suggesting responses to messages. Google’s catch-all branding for these personalized AI features is reminiscent of Apple’s Siri intelligence, designed to make the watch more proactive and less reliant on manual inputs.

Wear OS 7 also lays the groundwork for seamless connectivity with Android XR glasses. The platform will support glanceable notifications and Live Updates from the glasses, enabling users to leave their phone behind while staying connected. This integration is part of Google’s broader strategy to create a unified ecosystem across phones, watches, and wearables.

Android XR: The Glasses Are Almost Here

Google’s extended reality ambitions have been years in the making. After the Samsung Galaxy XR headset launched in October 2025 at $1,799, the focus has shifted to a more wearable form factor: smart glasses. In partnership with Xreal (formerly known as Nreal), Google developed Project Aura, now officially named the Xreal Aura. These glasses resemble dark sunglasses but pack a compute puck that houses the processing power, battery, and now a fingerprint scanner for secure unlocking.

Preorders opened today for $99, with the full launch expected this fall in the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and South Korea. Early adopters who reserve within a two-week window will receive a $199 credit toward the purchase, effectively saving $100 off the final price. Best Buy will be the first in-store retail partner, making the device accessible for hands-on demos.

The Xreal Aura runs Android XR, a new operating system designed from the ground up for mixed-reality devices. It supports existing Android phone and tablet apps from the Play Store, much like Apple’s Vision Pro supports iPad apps. Google has also developed immersive versions of Maps, Photos, YouTube, and a Chrome browser that enables multiwindow multitasking within a virtual space. Google describes the Aura as “a headset masquerading as glasses” — it uses waveguides to overlay digital information onto the real world.

Developers can start building apps for Android XR now, using familiar Android tools and APIs. Google has also partnered with other hardware makers beyond Xreal and Samsung to expand the ecosystem, though those details remain under wraps. The company sees Android XR as a natural extension of its mobile platform, bringing the flexibility of Android to a new form factor.

The Xreal Aura represents the second Android XR device, following the Samsung Galaxy XR headset. Google has designated Xreal as a lead hardware partner for the next two years, indicating a long-term commitment to the glasses form factor. The competition is fierce: Apple is reportedly developing smart glasses, Meta has its Ray-Ban Stories, and Samsung is also rumored to be working on glasses. But Google’s advantage lies in its open ecosystem, allowing multiple manufacturers to build Android XR devices with varying price points and features.

As the rollout continues, users can expect more detailed information on battery life, display quality, and app compatibility in the coming months. With preorders now open, the era of Android-powered smart glasses is officially beginning.

Source: The Verge News