There’s a brand-new update for Android XR, and Google has been showing off its new features. The operating system was first launched alongside the Samsung Galaxy XR headset in October 2025. The update ships with the ability to pin apps to walls in your AR/MR space, view your real hands while you interact, and have an easier time resuming old sessions.

One of the stand-out features of the latest Android XR update is the introduction of Auto-spatialization. This feature is all about making 2D content stand out by visualizing it in 3D. It can make websites appear more immersive or give your favorite 2D games a 3D makeover, to a certain extent. Google says it works in “almost any app game, website, image, or video”.

2D content transformed into a 3D experience

The example given by Google in its official blog post shows that users may toggle on the new “experimental” feature on YouTube, transforming 2D content by giving it a 3D perspective that reacts to the viewer’s location, angle, head movements, and so on. The specific example is of a rock climbing video. With Auto-spatialization toggled on, the rock face suddenly takes 3D shape, allowing you to peek around it and get a different angle of the climber, as much as the viewable area allows.

Five new features in the Android XR

1. Transform your favorite 2D apps and content into 3D experiences
2. Try the growing library of immersive app experiences
3. Turn any wall into a workspace or entertainment center
4. See your real hands while you interact with virtual content
5. Find your apps right where you left them

Source: Google official blog

Google says the Android XR update has already started rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy XR. The Galaxy XR is seen as a key rival to the Apple Vision Pro, positioned as a high-end headset for productivity and mixed-reality entertainment – two aspects of the device which are a focal point of this Android XR update. Of course, you can use it for gaming too, but there are many cheaper headsets for that, like the Meta Quest 3S or PlayStation VR2.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.