- The Chinese mainland's shipments approached 1 million units in 2025, making it the second-largest market by volume.
- Global AI glasses shipments reached 8.7 million units in 2025, with Meta maintaining a massive lead.
Global shipments of AI glasses reached 8.7 million units in 2025, marking a 322% year-on-year increase, according to estimates released Thursday by market research firm Omdia.
The growth was primarily driven by a surge in consumer interest in this emerging AI device category, with Meta remaining the dominant force globally.
Meta captured the largest share of the global market at 85.2%, with its AI glasses shipments reaching 7.4 million units, representing a 281.3% year-on-year growth.
In the Chinese mainland, where Meta does not have a direct presence, local device vendors and tech companies are rapidly reshaping the competitive landscape, making it the fastest-growing market globally.
Fueled by numerous new product launches, a wave of new entrants, and aggressive pricing strategies, the market captured a 10.9% share of the global AI glasses sector, becoming the second-largest market behind the United States.
The Chinese mainland's shipments approached 1 million units, securing its position as the second-largest market by volume and currently trailing only the US globally.
In the global competitive landscape, Chinese vendor Rokid and smartphone maker Xiaomi rose quickly, taking the second and third positions respectively on the back of strong performances, according to Omdia.
Total shipments of AI glasses with displays reached 730,000 units, with their market share rising rapidly from 3.3% in 2024 to 8.4% in 2025.
Chinese companies, including Rokid, Alibaba, and Even Realities, dominated the market, accounting for a massive 71% of the global share for these advanced display-equipped AI glasses.
In 2026, smart glasses were included in China's national trade-in subsidy program for the first time, a key fiscal policy that has significantly boosted overall device sales in the consumer market.
Alibaba's newly launched Qwen AI glasses sold out in multiple channels just three hours after going on sale Sunday, clearly demonstrating robust consumer demand in the domestic market.
Priced at 2,899 yuan ($420), the device's actual cost to Chinese consumers was drastically reduced to as low as 1,997 yuan after stacking government subsidies and platform discounts.
The active entry of smartphone and automotive manufacturers reflects a broader shift in the AI glasses industry's positioning, with the competitive landscape expected to consolidate around players who can demonstrate clear ecosystem value.
Global shipments of AI glasses are forecast to surpass 15 million units in 2026, primarily driven by major device vendors and tech giants aggressively entering the market, Omdia predicted.
As more players join the fierce competition, ecosystem integration will become a crucial differentiator, and the winners will be tech companies capable of achieving seamless integration, according to Omdia.
($1 = 6.9166 yuan)
