Preface: This year, AI eyewear has repeatedly captivated the market spotlight, transcending industry boundaries and exhibiting a robust sales growth trajectory. While the future trajectory of this field remains uncertain, it is evident that fierce competitions and strategic maneuvers between established tech giants and emerging startups are set to unfold.

Author | Fang Wensan
Image Source | Network

AI Eyewear Emerges as a Thriving Blue Ocean Market

Currently, AI eyewear products on the market are primarily categorized into four types: ① Eyewear solely featuring audio and AI capabilities; ② Smart eyewear integrating audio, photography, and AI functions; ③ Eyewear combining audio, AR, and AI technologies; ④ Fully functional smart eyewear integrating audio, photography, AR, and AI technologies.

Relevant statistics reveal that global sales of AI smart eyewear reached 600,000 units in the first quarter of this year, marking a year-on-year increase of 216%.

Notably, amidst the declining VR market and stagnant AR market, the rapid expansion of AI eyewear is poised to become the next trillion-dollar market, attracting significant interest from both startups and tech giants.

A research report from CITIC Securities predicts that the market penetration rate of AI-enabled eyewear could reach 60%.

Latest market data further indicates that AI eyewear, being more accessible, has already demonstrated robust sales growth compared to traditional AR eyewear.

Statistics show that global sales of AI smart eyewear hit 600,000 units in the first quarter of 2025, recording a year-on-year surge of 216%.

With the maturation of the supply chain and the entry of more brands, sales of AI smart eyewear are anticipated to reach 5.5 million units by 2025.

As AI eyewear technology matures and costs gradually decline, its market size is expected to expand rapidly. Predictions suggest that global sales of AI eyewear will surpass 50 million units by 2029.

The Inevitable Rivalry Between Large Corporations and Startup Teams

Currently, there is a stark contrast in the development paths of AI eyewear between startups and large enterprises. While most startups tend to focus on a singular product line (i.e., the integration of audio, photography, AR, and AI technologies), large enterprises adopt a diversified strategy, exploring all four product routes concurrently.

According to industry insiders, despite the significant technical challenges posed by eyewear integrating audio, photography, AR, and AI technologies, its comprehensive functionality and high user acceptance have made it the preferred R&D direction for large enterprises.

In terms of AI technology application, large enterprises primarily rely on self-developed large models, whereas startups often utilize externally provided large models, with Tongyi Qianwen being a popular choice.

The industry generally believes that from an interactive experience perspective, there will not be a significant difference between AI eyewear products launched by large enterprises and startups.

Conversely, many domestic AI eyewear manufacturers typically opt for a single-chip design due to both higher costs and the more challenging integration technology for dual chips.

In the short term, AI eyewear is still in the nascent stage of market education, with a much lower penetration rate compared to mature products like smartphones and smartwatches.

However, a deeper consideration lies in the strategic occupation of the AI hardware ecological entry point.

Therefore, the current price competition is essentially a strategic maneuver for future deployment in [computing power platform + content ecology + scenario integration], aiming to establish defensive barriers.

Leading Companies Officially Announce AI Eyewear Initiatives

On April 11, South Korean media outlet kedglobal reported that Samsung had postponed the launch of its smart eyewear codenamed [Haean], with an anticipated release in 2026.

It is understood that Samsung is finalizing the specifications and functions of the [Haean] smart eyewear, focusing on optimizing comfort to ensure a perfect fit for different face shapes. Additionally, the eyewear will be equipped with multiple cameras and sensors to support motion tracking functions.

Founded in 2017, XREAL may not be a household name in the domestic market but is undeniably a hidden giant in the global AR smart eyewear industry.

According to IDC data, XREAL has ranked first in global market share of AR smart eyewear for three consecutive years.

The XREAL One, launched by XREAL at the end of last year, is equipped with the self-developed spatial computing chip X1, which has been in development for three years and is the world's first of its kind.

Industry media XR Vision reports that Xiaomi will officially launch its AI smart eyewear product on June 26.

Similar in design to AI camera eyewear such as Ray-Ban Meta and ThunderBird V3, this product will feature a camera function alongside audio and AI processing modules.

According to related reports, Xiaomi's AI smart eyewear may adopt a dual-chip solution comprising Qualcomm AR1 and Beken's BES2700.

When handling complex scenarios, the Qualcomm AR1 chip will take the lead, while the BES2700 chip will manage simpler tasks like music playback.

Through the collaborative work of these two chips, energy consumption of AI eyewear can be effectively reduced, thereby enhancing its battery life.

Furthermore, some media outlets have revealed that Alibaba Group's AI eyewear will also adopt a dual-chip architecture comprising Qualcomm AR1 and Beken's BES2800.

The reason behind large enterprises' preference for dual-chip solutions lies in their robust financial backing.

In addition to Meta, Apple and Google are also accelerating their R&D efforts in AI/AR eyewear.

ByteDance has been engaged in AI eyewear projects since last year.

According to technology media outlet The Information, ByteDance has recently begun consulting with supply chain partners to discuss product features, specifications, costs, and marketing strategies.

The Ray-Ban brand, launched by Meta in collaboration with Ray-Ban, has achieved annual sales of over 2 million units, leveraging its fashionable design and offline sales network. Adopting a strategy of [hardware losses in exchange for data assets], it poses significant competitive pressure on startups.

Startups Explore Market Opportunities Through Differentiated Strategies

With the popularity of Ray-Ban Meta eyewear, smart eyewear integrating audio, photography, AR, and AI technologies has swiftly gained traction in the domestic market since the second half of the year.

On April 13, Starry Technology (formerly Meizu) officially announced that the overseas version of StarV Air2 will add Arabic translation functionality, expanding the product's real-time translation capabilities to 14 languages.

Its interaction method employs a scroll wheel design, supporting functions such as real-time translation, quick notes, meeting assistant, and AR navigation.

On April 15, Liweike Technology announced the successful completion of tens of millions of yuan in strategic financing, with investors including Hefei Baohe Venture Capital, listed company Miolant, and Hefei Binhu Financial Investment.

The proceeds from this financing will be utilized to accelerate the rapid iteration of Liweike Technology's self-developed WAKE-AI large model technology and the implementation of AI smart eyewear in diverse scenarios.

The AI smart audio eyewear G1000, jointly launched by Liweike Technology and China Mobile, is equipped with China Mobile's Lingxi intelligent agent.

Skyworth XR recently officially unveiled its first all-scenario AI smart eyewear, integrating core functions such as a high-definition camera, stereo headphones, real-time translation, and AI assistant.

This AI smart eyewear adopts an ultra-integrated architecture design, utilizing an innovative SOC+ISP+ADSP architecture to effectively reduce power consumption and extend battery life.

Industry sources have revealed that DPVR AI Glasses, a new AI eyewear product independently developed by DPVR, will soon be officially released.

DPVR AI Glasses deeply integrate professional imaging technology and are equipped with EIS electronic image stabilization technology to address high-frequency vibrations in sports scenarios.

The cross-border collaborations between Laofengxiang and Doubao large models, as well as the partnership between Zhou Hongyi and Rokid, reflect entrepreneurs' exploration of new growth opportunities and their efforts to expand market space through differentiated competition strategies, even if these strategies seem to deviate from their core businesses.

While this [brutal growth] business model entails high risks, it also nurtures immense potential.

These companies swiftly apply AI technology to eyewear products through cost-effective operations, enabling more consumers to experience the unique appeal of AI eyewear.

Therefore, for these entrepreneurs, the key to success lies in maintaining the momentum of [brutal growth] while building their own [moat], i.e., core competitiveness.

Conclusion:

In contrast to smartphone manufacturers who might view AI eyewear as a defensive product strategy, smart eyewear manufacturers are dedicated to developing products independent of smartphones to achieve differentiation in user experience.

The next two to three years will be a pivotal period for competition, witnessing the emergence of numerous brands and the elimination of others.

While market opportunities are equal, the future market may not support the coexistence of many brands, ultimately concentrating in the hands of a few major players.

References: Technology Vortex: "AI Eyewear: Survival Strategies for Large and Small Factories", Titanium Media: "Alibaba, Xiaomi, etc. Accelerate the [Siege] of Meta, AI Eyewear Launches a [Protracted War]", Dingjiao One: "AI Eyewear Battle Escalates: Giants Enter the Market, Small Teams Hang in the Balance?", ChiDongXi: "Changes in the Domestic AI Eyewear Landscape: Xiaomi, Alibaba, ByteDance Enter the Fray, Do Startups Still Have a Chance?", China Business Herald: "AI Eyewear Giants in a Mixed Battle! Price War Looms", VRAR Planet: "AI Eyewear Battle in the Second Quarter: New Developments from Huawei, Alibaba, ByteDance, and Other Giants Unveiled", XR Control: "Global AI Eyewear Race [Soars]! Domestic Manufacturers Become Capital [Favorites]", XR Control: "Meta's Rivals [Explode], Google, Lenovo, Baidu, and Other Major Players [Bet] on the AI Eyewear Race", BirdBrother Notes: "AI Eyewear: How Can Small and Beautiful Startups Tap into This Big Opportunity?", ZePing Macro Outlook: "AI Eyewear Research Report: AI Series", ElectronicDIY: "AI Eyewear Launches Intensively! Meta Deepens Live AI, Three Domestic Manufacturers Upgrade New Products"