The global market for AI glasses is expected to more than double in 2025 to reach 5.1 million units, and surpass 10 million units in 2026, according to Omdia.
The accelerated growth is driven by increased investment and innovation from leading consumer technology companies such as Google and Xiaomi, pushing the wearable sector into a new era.
Omdia projects that AI glasses shipments will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 47 percent to reach 35 million units by 2030.
China is set to become the world’s second largest AI glasses market after the US, with shipments projected at 1.2 million units for a 12 percent global share in 2026.
Fuelled by major internet firms and aggressive commercialisation of next-generation AI, China’s dynamic landscape provides fertile ground for the advancement of AI eyewear technology.
AI glasses, as defined by Omdia, are head-worn devices integrated with on-device or cloud-based large language models that deliver contextual information and assistance.
These devices employ multimodal interfaces to interpret a user’s environment and respond with audio prompts or discreet visual overlays.
“Integrating intelligence into everyday glasses has the potential to transform the way we experience daily life,” said Jason Low, Research Director of Omdia.
However, he cautioned that unlike wrist-worn wearable band devices, AI glasses encounter challenges such as privacy concerns from built-in cameras and microphones, as well as social resistance to all-day wear.
“These factors may hinder widespread adoption beyond early enthusiasts in the short term,” said Low.
Meta has emerged as a category leader, leveraging a partnership with EssilorLuxottica and Ray-Ban to deliver a product with broader consumer appeal. This collaboration has been credited with moving smart eyewear from a niche, geeky concept to a culturally relevant accessory, overcoming shortcomings encountered by earlier attempts such as Google Glass.
Photo: Bianca Salgado
Entelechy Asia 