Despite iPhones dominating U.S. teens (88% own one), Google is betting on a “new era” of Android to win them back. Android ecosystem president Sameer Samat unveiled Android 16 at Google I/O, featuring a modern Material 3 design inspired by feedback from over 18,000 users.
But Android’s ambitions go beyond smartphones. The next frontier? Smart glasses. Google announced its Android XR platform, built in collaboration with Samsung, which will power next-gen smart eyewear from brands like Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. With better hardware, lighter designs, and AI at the core via Gemini Android XR aims to give users hands-free “superpowers.”
Gemini, now replacing Google Assistant, will be embedded across Android from phones to wearables to XR. Use cases include summarizing books through camera vision or finding info in Gmail all voice-controlled via smart glasses.
Samat says openness remains key, despite regulatory pressure on Google over antitrust concerns. Android XR won’t lock users into Gemini, and privacy will be a focus, with strict hardware guidelines.
Also on the horizon: tighter Chromebook-Android integration and hints at a possible Pixel laptop return.
As Apple and Meta ramp up their smart glasses efforts, Google hopes its open platform and AI-first vision will finally get users, especially teens, to give Android a second look.
