Google just revealed its next major operating system called Android XR. This is the company’s platform that will power the next generation of amazing XR devices, and we’re all anxious to see how it will be. Well, thanks to some screenshots shared by Android Authority, we know what Android XR will look like.
If you don’t know what Android XR is, it’s the platform that Google collaborated with Samsung to develop. In fact, Samsung’s XR headset will be the first device to run this operating system. We just got word that it will have motion controller support, which is something that the Apple Vision Pro currently lacks. Also, it will come with a PC streaming feature. Rumor has it that it will launch sometime in 2025.
Here are some screenshots of Android XR
We’re all excited to see what this operating system will look like, but there’s something you should know. These screenshots show how Android XR looks in a pre-release state. As such, there will likely be changes to the visuals and functions once it makes it to the market.
Apps
Based on the screenshots provided, it looks like Android XR won’t stray far from the Android we’re seeing on phones. In the first screenshot, we see the settings app, and it looks like someone took the interface from the Pixel Tablet and suspended it in mid-air. Above the window, we see a little bar with the exit, minimize, and settings buttons.
The next one shows what looks like the recent apps screen. This reveals two things about the operating system. Firstly, we see that the recent apps also look similar to what we see on Android. Second, it shows that Android XR will be able to run more than one app at a time.
Play Store
In the next screenshot, we see the Google Play Store. This shows us some pretty significant details.
We see that the Play Store opens in its tablet version. So we’re wondering if apps will open in their tablet sizes by default. Next, we see that the app will highlight XR apps in a dedicated section. Lastly, the screenshot shows us that Chrome, Google Translate, Google One, Gmail, Maps, and Drive will be able to run on Android XR devices.
Home Screens
Moving onto the home screen we see an empty interface. Again, this is early software we’re looking at, so Google could change things. The home screen will consist of two screens. The first one will show you your pinned apps. You’ll pin them for quick access. When you swipe the screen, you’ll see the rest of your installed apps.
Notifications and Quick Settings
It looks like Android XR will split up the notifications and Quick Settings panels. Just like with the other screenshots, the notification shade looks just like how it does on Android. You can expand the notifications, and perform actions from the notification rather than entering the app. For example, we see that you can explore and eject the SD card from the Virtual SD Card notification.
Moving onto the Quick Settings, we see a pretty familiar site. However, there are a few differences. The Internet and Bluetooth buttons sit at the top with the main Quick Settings sitting below. We see standard Android Quick Settings along with a few XR-specific settings like the boundary and passthrough settings.
Under those, we see the brightness slider with the power, settings, and an unknown third button.
Keyboard and videos
The last screenshot shows us how Gboard will look, and it’s a bit cramped. Rather than stretching the length of the window above, it’s compressed. Looking at the screenshot, it looks like this version of Gboard will be pretty tough to use, but we’ll need to see it in action to know.
Next, here are a few videos showing the operating system in action. Android Authority notes that the choppiness is only present in the video. Android XR ran smoothly.
Looking at the videos, we see that the animations are similar to what we see in Android. Just like other XR platforms, all of the windows exist in the 3D space. You’ll rotate your head to switch between windows.
All in all, it looks like Android XR will be a pretty good-looking and easy-to-use operating system. We’ll have to wait until 2025 to see it in a device, and it seems like it will be worth the wait.
