Google

According to reports, Google is planning to release two new AI AR glasses in 2026, one model without a display, and the second one offering a monocular microLED-powered display.

Magic-Leap AI AR glasses prototype, developed with Raxium/Google

According to the information available, Google is aiming at a simple, minimalistic device, that will be able to provide notifications, small information displays, and provide functionality similar to a smart watch. The company plans to later (perhaps in 2027) release a binocular version.

Magic Leap, during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, announced a new strategic move into AR glasses development - and also a renewed three-year partnership with Google. 

As part of the event, Magic Leap also unveiled a new AR glasses prototype, powered by MicroLED displays developed by Google's Raxium. Magic Leap says that its optics and waveguide design enable it to provide superior clarity and stability compared to other solutions. 

MicroLED-Connect is the microLED industry's top event series, offering a combination of exciting online webinars and a flagship annual on-site event. Our next meeting is on 23-25 September 2025, at the High Tech Campus, Eindhoven, Netherlands. MicroLED-Connect is co-organised by TechBlick and the MicroLED Industry Association and offers the best way to connect with the global MicroLED and AR/VR display industries and markets.

In this article, we will share a few short videos from past events. First up, we have Google's Bernard Kress, director of Google AR, that gave an excellent talk about the future of smart glasses. Interestingly, Bernard says that the two most important considerations are fashion, and prescription vision integration!

In 2022, Google acquired Raxium, a US-based microLED microdisplay developer. The company has since continued the development of these microdisplays, and yesterday it has demonstrated its latest Project Astra AR headset, that is powered by Raxium microdsiplays.

Google did not disclose any more information on these displays or the headset. The new prototype was shown during the company's joint-event with Samsung showcasing Google's new XR initiatives and Samsung's latest headset design.

On September 24-26, the inaugural MicroLED-Connect event took place in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. It was an extremely successful event, with attendees, speakers and exhibitors from all over the world there to discuss the latest microLED innovations and updates. It is clear that there's much interest and driving force behind the microLED industry.

MicroLED-Connect hosted over 40 speakers and 8 masterclasses, providing a wealth of information by leading display makers and supply chain companies, researchers, material makers, market analysts, investors, application developers, and more. The agenda included speakers from Google, Meta, TCL CSoT, KAUST, JCDecaux, CEA/Leti, GlobalFoundries, Aixtron, Continental, Applied Materials, imec.Xpand, VueReal, ALLOS and many more.

Do NOT miss the most important meeting of the year: Book your tickets before 12 July and save up to 500 Euro per person!

The most important dedicated MicroLED conference and exhibition worldwide. And it is the first ever dedicated MicroLED event!

Dates: 25 & 26 Sept 2024
Location: High Tech Campus, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Organizers: TechBlick and the MicroLED Industry Association

Agenda: Amazing speaker line-up including Google, Yole, Continental, Aixtron, Applied Materials, Toray Engineering, TCL CSOT, JCDecaux, CEA Leti, Coherent, VueReal, Omdia, and many others.  

According to reports, Google acquired Raxium, a US-based microLED microdisplay developer. The financial terms of this acquisition were not disclosed.

There's not much known about Raxium, beyond that it has developed a monolithic approach to develop microLED microdisplays, with a pixel pitch of 3.5 um.

Google was granted a new patent that describes a micro-LED based AR glasses device. This is a patent from March 2016 that was now granted.

According to the patent description, the Micro-LED active area is aligned to an array of collimating reflectors that reflect a display image back towards a user's eyes. The patent also describes a similar VR device (in which the displays are not see-through).