Samsung Galaxy XR Ushers In the Future of Spatial Apps on Android

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Samsung Galaxy XR Ushers In the Future of Spatial Apps on Android




The future of mobile development has officially arrived. Samsung has launched the Galaxy XR, the first-ever device powered by the Android XR platform — opening the door to a new, three-dimensional era for Android apps.

This innovative hardware allows developers to expand beyond flat screens and design immersive experiences that blend digital content with the real world — taking apps into the third dimension.

Building for Android XR Feels Familiar — Yet Limitless

If the idea of “depth” in app design sounds intimidating, don’t worry. Developing for Android XR feels very similar to standard Android development.

With the Jetpack Compose for XR toolkit, you’ll use the same composables, tools, and libraries you already know — but now, you can design for a spatial user interface.

Even better, most existing Android apps will automatically work in XR’s Home Space, where users can run apps in resizable windows without any code changes. However, for a truly immersive experience, developers can take their apps into Full Space — a mode where the app takes center stage and unlocks XR-exclusive features like spatial layouts and 3D media.

A Real Example: Androidify in the Third Dimension

To demonstrate Android XR’s power, Google showcased Androidify, an app that uses Gemini Flash and Imagine AI models to turn selfies or text prompts into custom Android bots.

Using the Firebase AI Logic SDK, the app generates captions and personalized 3D avatars — all in real time. Androidify works seamlessly across devices like phones, tablets, and foldables, thanks to adaptive layouts. But when brought into Android XR, the experience transforms into a fully spatial, interactive environment.

How Developers Can "Spatialize" Their Apps

In XR, there are no screen edges — the space around the user becomes part of the experience. To bring apps into this environment, developers can follow a few key steps:

1. Add Jetpack XR SDK dependencies
Start by integrating the Jetpack XR SDK into your project. You can find the latest libraries and examples at developer.android.com/xr.

2. Enable Full Space Mode
Add a button that lets users switch from Home Space to Full Space, giving your app access to XR capabilities like spatial layouts.

3. Build Spatial Panels and Subspaces
Spatial Panels are 2D or 3D containers that can be positioned, resized, and rotated within a 3D environment. You can use them to arrange videos, UI components, or interactive controls.

Subspaces define 3D regions that contain spatial panels — allowing elements to move and resize naturally within the XR world.

4. Introduce Orbiters for Control
Orbiters are floating controls attached to panels. For example, you can add a floating “Home” button that lets users return to Home Space or switch between views — creating an intuitive and flexible navigation experience.

5. Apply Spatial Rows and Columns
Much like 2D layouts, you can arrange XR panels using spatial rows and columns for comfortable viewing and organization.

By combining these tools, developers can bring their app interfaces to life in immersive, three-dimensional environments.

The Androidify Spatial Experience

In Androidify’s XR version, UI components like the video player and main controls are divided into spatial panels that users can move, resize, or rotate. Floating orbiters let them navigate freely without breaking immersion.

Custom layouts and subtle 3D animations bring the interface to life, creating a natural, human-scale environment that feels intuitive and exciting to explore.

Each spatial screen — from creation to export — merges UI, motion, and interaction to create a truly immersive digital playground.

Start Building for Android XR Today

The Android XR SDK and Jetpack XR tools are now available to all developers. Visit
👉 developer.android.com/xr
to explore official documentation, code labs, and samples that will guide you through XR fundamentals like environments, spatial design, and interactions.

You can also check out the full Androidify XR project on GitHub to see how it was built and start experimenting with your own 3D ideas.

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy XR, the boundaries of app development have officially expanded. The next generation of Android apps won’t just live on screens — they’ll exist all around us.

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