The XR Revolution Rolls On
If you thought XR (extended reality) was just for gamers or elite creatives, think again. In 2025 we’re seeing a full-blown shift: spatial computing is moving into the mainstream workplace, and right at the centre is Android XR. That’s right — Google’s new platform is stepping into the ring alongside
Apple’s Vision Pro and opening up immersive tech to a wider audience.
Why This Matters for Businesses
For companies thinking about adopting XR solutions, this isn’t just “another gadget”. The arrival of Android XR means more choice, more flexibility and a new ecosystem to explore. If your organisation is evaluating spatial computing or mixed-reality strategies, you’ll want to understand how Android XR differs, why it might be a better fit for some use-cases, and how it compares to Apple’s offering. At Frame Sixty we’ve already started supporting Android XR in our XR roadmap, and here’s why you should care too.
Simply put, Android XR is Google’s dedicated operating system for spatial computing devices—headsets, AR glasses and future immersive hardware. Built atop Android fundamentals, it brings together AR, VR and mixed reality under one roof.
According to Google’s Android XR announcement, the company has partnered with Samsung and Qualcomm to create a unified XR platform that extends Android’s dominance into the immersive computing world.
Core Features & Developer Advantages
Here are some of the features that make Android XR stand out:
- AI-native design: Google’s Gemini AI is deeply integrated, enabling voice/gesture/eye interaction within spatial environments.
- Broad app compatibility: Android XR supports many existing Android apps and can run immersive experiences built with ARCore, Unity and OpenXR.
- Open ecosystem: The platform invites multiple hardware vendors, so you’re not locked into one headset manufacturer.
- Modular architecture: Enterprises can choose devices, input methods and deployment models that suit their workflows—rather than one “one-size-fits-all” device.
If you’re already developing Android mobile apps or using Google technologies, Android XR offers a smoother path into spatial computing than starting from scratch.
Apple Vision Pro at a Glance
The Spatial Computing Benchmark
Apple’s
Vision Pro overview set the standard for premium XR experiences — offering high-resolution displays, advanced hand and eye tracking, and a refined OS in visionOS. It proved that spatial computing could move beyond entertainment and into productivity, design, and collaboration.
Vision Pro’s strengths are clear: polished user experience, high-end optics, seamless Apple ecosystem integration and strong application support. However, there are trade-offs: the cost is steep, and the device ecosystem is currently limited (one headset model, Apple-only). This matters for companies looking for scalable, flexible XR deployments rather than boutique flagship devices.
Android XR vs. Apple Vision Pro: Platform Showdown
Open Ecosystem vs. Walled Garden
Apple’s ecosystem is famously closed: Apple hardware, Apple software, Apple rules. That creates consistency — but at the cost of flexibility. Android XR, on the other hand, embraces openness. Manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, and XREAL are already developing hardware for it, giving companies multiple form factors and price points to choose from.
As XR Today notes, Android XR’s open ecosystem is a game-changer for enterprise adoption, fostering innovation and competition across vendors.
AI & Software Capabilities
From a software perspective, Android XR leans heavily into AI – Gemini AI is embedded at the OS level, enabling contextual assistance, gaze-based search, multi-user collaboration in real-time and more. Apple’s Vision Pro offers great software and hardware integration, but its narrative so far isn’t as AI-centric as Android XR’s launch. For businesses needing intelligent assistants, real-time translation or flexible workflows, Android XR may have the edge. That said, Apple’s polish and mature ecosystem mean smoother out-of-the-box experiences for certain use-cases. The bottom-line: both platforms are powerful; your choice depends on whether openness and scale or premium control matter more to you.
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Devices Running Android XR
Samsung Galaxy XR + Early Devices
The first major device to run Android XR is the Samsung Galaxy XR headset (Project Moohan). It features dual high-resolution displays, full hand/eye tracking, and is expected to launch at a significantly lower price than Vision Pro.
You can read more in our Project Moohan deep dive to see how Samsung’s device fits into this expanding XR ecosystem.
A Broader Hardware Ecosystem
What makes Android XR exciting is the pipeline: Sony, XREAL (formerly Nreal), Lynx, Magic Leap and others are reportedly developing devices under the Android XR umbrella. That means you might soon choose from full-headset VR/MR gear, lightweight AR glasses and even mobile-paired XR devices—all running the same platform and compatible apps. For enterprises, this means choosing hardware tailored for each role – and still running the same software stack.
Why Android XR Matters (Opportunities for Businesses)
Flexibility, Choice & Scalability
For companies adopting XR, flexibility is everything. Android XR allows you to choose the right hardware for each workflow — design, training, or collaboration — without rewriting your apps. The open ecosystem ensures your investment in immersive content lasts longer across future devices.
We covered this topic in depth in our article on
Spatial Computing in Enterprise.
Lower Entry-Barrier & Cost Benefits
Compared to a single ultra-premium headset model, Android XR’s vendor diversity and competitive pricing mean lower entry costs. For example, the Galaxy XR is priced significantly under comparable devices from Apple. That means you can deploy more units with the same budget—critical when you’re rolling XR out to large teams rather than a pilot group of one or two. It also means you can experiment more without breaking the bank.
Leveraging Existing Android Infrastructure
Many enterprises already use Android devices, apps or development pipelines. Android XR taps into that existing infrastructure: developers familiar with Android or Unity can pick up XR faster, device management (MDM) for Android is mature, and your Android backend services may already be compatible. This means lower risk, lower learning curve and faster time to value when you adopt Android XR versus starting from zero in a closed ecosystem.
Implications for Enterprise and Industry
Spatial computing is no longer fantasy—it’s becoming part of real workflows. Whether for training simulations, remote collaboration, data visualisation or virtual showrooms, XR has practical appeal. With Android XR, you get an ecosystem that makes these use-cases more reachable. For example, a field technician wearing Android XR glasses could get live AR overlays when inspecting machinery, or a design team across continents could use a shared XR workspace on headsets from multiple vendors. The variety of device types makes it easier to tailor XR for different roles.
Developer & IT Considerations
From a tech perspective, adopting Android XR means less reinvention. Developers familiar with Android and Unity can transition easily, and IT teams can manage devices using familiar enterprise tools. Cross-platform standards like OpenXR make it feasible to build XR apps once and deploy them across Vision Pro, Quest, and Android XR devices with minor tweaks.
For an engineering view on these trends, see
A Developer’s Perspective on Apple Vision Pro.
Our Approach to XR Platforms
At Frame Sixty, we believe XR will be best served by a multi-platform strategy—and that includes Android XR. We’ve incorporated Android XR into our XR development roadmap so that we can help clients build immersive experiences that aren’t locked into one vendor. Whether your business is iOS-centric, Android-centric or somewhere in-between, we’ve got you covered.
Preparing for Future Deployments
What does that mean in practice? For our clients it means fewer barriers to entry and more flexibility: we build XR apps with modular architecture so they can run on multiple hardware types, with Android XR compatibility built-in from the start. We’re also staying ahead of the ecosystem by researching Android XR hardware capabilities, reviewing dev tools and mapping out opportunities so that when you’re ready to adopt XR in production, you’re not starting from scratch.
No technology is without its challenges—and Android XR is no exception. The app ecosystem is still growing; hardware specs and experiences will vary across manufacturers; user ergonomics and comfort still require work; content creation for XR remains a key bottleneck (3D models, spatial UX, etc.). From an enterprise perspective, proving ROI, training users and integrating XR into existing workflows are real considerations. These issues are not unique to Android XR—they apply to XR in general—but the variability of multiple devices means you’ll also want to standardise hardware and workflows where possible.
Despite these early hurdles, the trajectory is very positive. Android XR is backed by major players, and the fact that we’re already seeing devices and developer tools means we’re poised for significant growth. Over the next 12–24 months expect lighter hardware (think AR glasses), lower prices, richer app ecosystems and more enterprise-focused XR solutions. The competition between Android XR and Vision Pro is good news for businesses—it promises rapid innovation and choice.
A New Era of Spatial Computing
What a time to be exploring XR. With Android XR now live and Apple Vision Pro already in the market, we are no longer in the “XR someday” era—we’re in the “XR today” era. For businesses, that means the question is no longer “if” but “how and when”. Android XR, with its open platform, AI-centric design and growing hardware ecosystem, offers a compelling path for organisations looking to adopt spatial computing at scale.
If your company is thinking about XR—whether it’s training, collaboration, design, or customer engagement—think about where Android XR fits into your strategy. Do you want flexibility, cost-effectiveness and multiple device options? Then Android XR should be on the short list. Do you want premium polish and a tightly integrated device? Then Apple Vision Pro remains a strong option. And if you want the best of both, build for both platforms from the start. At Frame Sixty, we’re ready to help you navigate that path—setting you up with an XR roadmap, developing modular content and choosing the right devices for your workforce. The next wave of spatial computing is here—and it’s powered by Android XR.
If you’d like to talk about how Android XR could work in your organisation, drop us a line — we’d love to help you get started.
