The smart glasses market is accelerating into a period of unprecedented growth, with 2026 expected to mark a critical inflection point for mass adoption. This surge is fueled by rising consumer demand, concentrated product releases from major tech players, and rapid advancements in core technologies. Behind this expansion lies a robust manufacturing ecosystem, with companies like Guangzhou ZhuoHao Technology emerging as respected OEM/ODM solution providers, enabling brands to turn innovative concepts into market-ready products.

1. Strong Market Growth Points to 2026 as Turning Point

According to IDC, smart glasses continued to achieve breakthroughs in hardware lightweighting and basic AI functionality throughout 2025, setting the stage for enhanced user experiences and product innovation. By 2026, the Chinese smart glasses market is expected to reach a critical scale, bringing significant changes to product form factors, interaction methods, and service models.

Market data confirms this upward trajectory. Tmall reported a 2500% year-on-year increase in AI glasses sales as of October 30, making it one of the fastest-growing digital categories. JD.com noted a 346% surge in AI glasses sales during this year’s Double 11 festival. CINNO Research highlighted that the global AR/VR sector secured 33 financing rounds in Q3 2025, totaling approximately ¥5.5 billion, driven largely by new AR product launches, optimized supply chain costs, and deeper AI integration.

IDC forecasts global smart glasses shipments will reach 12.8 million units in 2025—a 26% year-on-year increase—with the Chinese market accounting for 2.75 million units, up 107%. By 2026, worldwide shipments are projected to exceed 23.7 million, including 4.9 million units in China, signaling the start of a new phase of scaled growth.

As IDC China analyst Ye Qingqing explains, this inflection point is driven by both supply and demand. On the supply side, brands are making strategic moves to capture the next computing interface. On the demand side, AI-enabled glasses priced around ¥1,500 align with the willingness of tech enthusiasts and early adopters to try new products, activating first-time purchase intent.

2. Tech Giants Accelerate Layout with Frequent New Releases

The second half of 2025 saw an explosion of AI glasses product launches, with major tech companies accelerating their entries into the wearables space. Since October, approximately eight new AI glasses models have been released by companies including Alibaba, Baidu’s Xiaodu, Lenovo, Rokid, BOLON, INMO, Even, and Jie Huan.

Baidu re-entered the smart glasses market after 11 years with the Xiaodu AI Glasses Pro, featuring AI translation, object recognition, memo-taking, and recording. Apple quietly released an upgraded version of its Vision Pro, despite earlier reports of discontinuation. Alibaba also plans to launch its first self-developed flagship MicroLED dual-display AI glasses, the Quark AI Glasses S1, integrating Alipay, Taobao, Amap, and the Qwen large model for navigation, payment recognition, and meeting summaries. They join other Chinese tech leaders like Huawei, Xiaomi, Meizu, and vivo who have already entered the segment.

3. Product Strength Becomes Key, Tech Upgrades Enhance Experience

Today’s AI glasses are transitioning from “usable” to “easy to use.” Leading manufacturers are leveraging on-device large models, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 platform, and self-developed optical waveguides to enhance performance. At the same time, traditional electronics brands and specialized optical firms are collaborating to accelerate technology implementation.

Notably, dual-chip architectures are gaining popularity, balancing computing power and energy efficiency. The Quark AI Glasses S1 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 + BES2800 setup, while the BOLON AI Glasses feature a Qualcomm AR1 + NXP RT600 low-power co-processor. This design not only improves power efficiency but also allows room for future deployment of larger on-device AI models.

Optical displays remain a core challenge. Recent product releases show diverse approaches: the Quark S1 employs a dual-optical engine with 2D diffractive waveguides and adjustable focal length, while Even’s G2 uses a “smart spatial 3D layered information display” to show different content layers. Lenovo’s AI Glasses V1 supports switching between monocular and binocular display modes, improving practicality.

In terms of functionality, translation has become a standard feature. The Xiaodu AI Glasses Pro achieve professional-grade simultaneous interpretation within 3 seconds, supporting dozens of specialized fields such as law and medicine. Jie Huan’s glasses support 15 languages for real-time face-to-face translation, while INMO GO3 translates into over 260 target languages. Lenovo’s V1 integrates a personal AI assistant for multi-turn dialogue translation.

Battery life and comfort are also improving. The Quark AI Glasses and INMO GO3 support detachable magnetic battery replacement. Hands-free payment is gaining traction: Rokid x BOLON AI Glasses enable voice-activated Alipay transactions, and Meizu has demonstrated a concept AI glasses model with iris payment recognition, signaling that biometrics and visual interaction are becoming new standards.

4. Industry Chain Expands, Highlighting China’s Supply Chain Strengths

The rapid growth of the smart glasses market is driving upstream supply chain development. Display manufacturers are actively advancing Micro LED technology, which is widely regarded as the ideal micro-display solution due to its high pixel density, ultra-high brightness, low power consumption, and long lifespan. It is considered the core of next-generation display technology.

As one industry insider noted, “Just as smartbands were initially screenless but evolved into smartwatches, AI glasses will follow a similar path—future devices will inevitably combine AI and AR, and AI glasses will gradually be replaced by AI + AR glasses with displays.”

Companies like TCL CSOT have released a 0.28-inch full-color silicon-based Micro LED display with the world’s highest resolution, offering a “retinal-level” visual experience for AR glasses. Leyard, traditionally focused on large commercial displays, is now targeting the consumer market. Brands like Hongfa and ArcSoft are also contributing precision components and visual algorithms to improve imaging, recognition, and user interaction.

Conclusion: A Manufacturing-Led Transformation

IDC believes that 2026 will be the year smart glasses reach scale, with manufacturers focusing on specific functions while balancing hardware limitations. As technology evolves, AI glasses are poised to become the next core human-computer interaction interface. The winners in this space will be those who solve wearability and intuitive interaction first.

Underlying this entire transformation is a sophisticated manufacturing base. Guangzhou ZhuoHao Technology exemplifies this capability, providing reliable OEM/ODM solutions that help brands navigate the complexities of acoustic design, hardware integration, and scalable production. As the industry approaches its tipping point, experienced manufacturing partners will play an indispensable role in bringing high-quality, market-ready smart glasses to consumers worldwide.

Source: Adapted from Securities Times, November 22, “Smart Glasses Market Grows Rapidly, Expected to Reach Scaling Inflection Point Next Year.”