2026 is already proving to be a defining year for the hardware market, with a proper boom of smart glasses happening right now. As a reminder, when we discuss Spatial Computing, we cover the entire spectrum: smart glasses, XR, VR, and crucially, their real-world applications. The mobile development community is the foundational architect of this future.

🚀 Latest Real-world Spatial Applications 

• Google has released a dedicated, native YouTube app for Apple Vision Pro, closing a significant content gap for the platform. Read more.

• Red Bull's 2026 season launch showcased the growing sports ecosystem for Apple Vision Pro, featuring iPhone-shot footage embedded in the broadcast and headset wearers on stage. Read more.

• CORTIS has teamed up with Apple to release the GO! performance app on Apple Vision Pro, bringing advanced athletic training and visualization to the platform. Read more.

• The NBA App has introduced Multiview and new navigation features on Apple Vision Pro, allowing fans to watch multiple games simultaneously using eyes, hands, and voice. Read more.

• Immersive education at the Georgia Institute of Technology is now powered by Apple Vision Pro, allowing students to engage with complex subjects in spatial 3D. Read more.

• Virtual Reality has entered the Ascot Racecourse with a multi-vendor demo on Apple Vision Pro, enhancing the spectator experience with immersive data overlays. Read more.

• Former Apple engineer Alan Oppenheimer has founded the Art Authority Museum on Apple Vision Pro, aiming to "bring all the world’s art to all the world" using immersive technology. Read more.

• Filmmaker Hugh Hou demonstrated the computing power required for spatial filmmaking on Gigabyte hardware, going hands-on at CES 2026 to show the future of content creation. Read more.

• Lamborghini is utilizing augmented reality configuration tools on Apple Vision Pro, helping clients better understand and configure their complex, high-performance vehicles. Read more.

• Rush University is testing a new method for colon cancer detection using Apple Vision Pro, marking another significant medical application for the headset. Read more.

• A new hack called "ClawdBot" has unlocked massive utility for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, though it comes with security risks. Read more.

• 🏃‍♂️ 🕶️ 🫣 A streaker at Super Bowl LX captured his own field invasion using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, providing a viral first-person perspective of being tackled by New England Patriots receiver Kyle Williams. Read more.

⚙️ Operating System Announcements

Android XR (Developer Preview 3)

Following the October release of the Samsung Galaxy XR, Google is aggressively pushing the new Android XR SDK. The platform enables developers to build declarative spatial UIs using Jetpack Compose for XR, allowing modern Android developers to port existing mobile skills directly to the new headset and upcoming glasses (from Samsung, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster!). Learn more.

Meta Device Access Toolkit SDK v0.4.0 (Developer Preview)

Meta has released the first public version of its toolkit for iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin), enabling mobile apps to control Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley smart glasses. Release notes.

• Camera Access: Stream live video (720p) and capture photo frames directly from the glasses' 12MP ultra-wide camera to your mobile app.

• Audio & Mic: Full bi-directional audio support via the 5-microphone array and open-ear speakers using the standard Hands-Free Profile (HFP).

• Device Support: Full compatibility with Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1 & 2) and Oakley Meta HSTN. Note: HUD/Display support is not included in this release.

Meta Spatial SDK v0.10.0

A new update to the Kotlin-based SDK has been released, optimizing passthrough rendering and adding new hand-interaction prefabs to speed up development for Horizon OS apps. Release notes.

Meta Horizon OS 2.1 (Formerly v85)

Meta has overhauled its versioning and UI, jumping from v85 to Horizon OS 2.1. This major update introduces Navigator, a modernized user interface that replaces the old system bar, and implements a new simplified versioning system (e.g., 2.1, 2.2) to better distinguish major feature drops. Release notes.

Apple visionOS 26.3

Apple has officially released visionOS 26.3 to the public. This update focuses on platform stability and refines Hand Tracking latency and Spatial Persona positioning for improved multi-user interactivity. Release notes.

🌎 Community & Industry

Meta AI Glasses Impact Grants 

Meta has introduced a nearly $2 million grant program to advance "wearable technology for good," offering funding to US organizations using AI glasses to drive societal and economic value. Learn more here.

Upcoming Events

March 2–5, 2026, Barcelona, Spain
MWC Barcelona & 4YFN – The world's largest connectivity event and startup platform. (we’ll be there!)

October 7-9, 2026, Berlin, Germany
xr&gamesCon – The world's premier event for XR & mobile game developers by the organizers behind droidcon and fluttercon. 📱 (we’ll be here too!)

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Join a Meridian Meetup! 

Connect with your local community exploring spatial computing, XR, and smart glasses. Whether you want to attend an event or start a new chapter in your city, we invite you to get involved and shape the industry's future. Check it out.

🛠️ Hardware News & Rumors

Meta plans to double production of Ray-Ban smart glasses to meet soaring demand, aiming for 20 million units.

Leaks point to two versions of "Galaxy Glasses" landing in 2026, as Samsung confirms its Android XR smart glasses will launch this year to beat Ray-Ban Meta.

XREAL AR glasses are reportedly leading the 2025/2026 smart glasses revolution with significant market traction.

Reports suggest OpenAI's audio-first hardware product could launch this year, entering the wearable AI race.

The Asus chairman confirmed a pause on smartphone launches to pivot resources toward AI technology and smart glasses.

Candidate designs for the Meta Quest 4 VR headset have surfaced, hinting at the future direction of their standalone line.

Waitlists for the Ray-Ban glasses with displays are running into 2026 as Meta prioritizes US orders.

🧐 Deeper than the Headlines

The Great Form Factor Pivot is Here.

If 2024 was the year of the "Spatial Computer" (headsets), 2026 is swiftly becoming the year of the AI Smart Glass. The headlines this month tell a synchronized story of a massive industry correction.

Meta’s decision to cut 10% of Reality Labs—specifically targeting VR studios—while simultaneously doubling production of Ray-Ban smart glasses is not a retreat; it is a reallocation of resources toward the winning form factor. The market has spoken: consumers want lightweight, AI-integrated wearables, not just immersive isolation.

Meanwhile, Google’s mobilization of the Android XR ecosystem (with Samsung and Xreal) and the standardization of Kotlin/Jetpack Compose for spatial apps suggests they are skipping the "heavy headset" wars to build the operating system for the open glasses market.

The Takeaway: The battle has shifted from "Who can build the best Metaverse?" to "Who can put the most helpful AI on your face?" For mobile developers, this means the barrier to entry is lowering—building for glasses is looking a lot more like building for phones than building for game consoles.

Engage and Build 🏗️

Your contribution drives the ecosystem! 🌐

We want to feature your work. As the sector accelerates, share your latest projects and insights with our team. Have a tip? a new launch? something you want to know more on? Email us!

Until next time, keep shaping the future.