China Nears 80% Global Smart Glasses Brand Share as AI Device Battle Intensifies — Digitimes

Digitimes published a major industry analysis on July 28 revealing that Chinese companies now account for nearly 80% of all smart glasses brands globally, as breakthroughs in generative AI and large language models (LLMs) accelerate demand for AI-powered wearables. The report highlights a fundamental shift in the smart glasses market that has major implications for Western brands and buyers alike.

The Numbers

• 80% brand share: Chinese companies dominate the global smart glasses market by number of brands, spanning budget to mid-range segments
• 22.67 million units: IDC forecasts Chinese manufacturers will ship 22.67 million AI glasses units worldwide in 2026, up 56.3% year-over-year
• 4.915 million domestic: IDC expects China's domestic smart glasses market alone to hit 4.915 million units in 2026, a "large-scale inflection point"
• Supply chain control: Over 80% of companies in the global AI glasses supply chain — from chips to optics to assembly — are based in China

Key Chinese Brands Driving Growth

The surge is led by brands including Xiaomi, Huawei, Rokid, XREAL, and Even Realities. Xiaomi's recent smart glasses launch drove significant volume, while Even Realities reached $1B unicorn status in July with its camera-free G2 glasses. XREAL and Rokid continue to dominate the AR display glasses segment with the XREAL Air 2 Pro and Rokid Max.

Why China Leads

China's dominance stems from an integrated domestic supply chain that includes display panels (BOE, Visionox), optical components, Qualcomm-compatible chipsets, and final assembly — all within a single ecosystem. This gives Chinese brands a structural cost advantage that Western competitors like Meta and Apple cannot easily match at scale.

What This Means for Buyers

More competition means lower prices and faster innovation for consumers. The Rokid Max at $270 and XREAL Air 2 Pro at $376 already undercut Western alternatives significantly. However, buyers should consider software ecosystem maturity and privacy policies — Chinese brands often lack the app ecosystems and data transparency of Meta ($379) or the upcoming Apple smart glasses. See our smart glasses guide for full comparisons.