• Global smart glasses shipments surged 210% YoY in 2024 and 156% YoY in 2023, driven by strong demand for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

• Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses redefine the smart glasses experience by integrating wearable AI while combining a stylish design with enhanced smart functionalities.

• Following the success of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, a wave of new players, including major tech giants like Xiaomi, Samsung, Baidu, and ByteDance, is set to enter the global smart glasses market. The supply chain expects 2025 to be a “battle of hundreds of smart glasses”.

• We expect the global smart glasses market to thrive, with 60% YoY growth in 2025 and a sustained CAGR of over 60% through 2029, driven by broader use cases, diverse price segments and an expanding player ecosystem.

Seoul, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, San Diego, Taipei, Tokyo – Feb 26, 2025

Global smart glasses shipments surged 210% YoY in 2024 driven by strong demand for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Smart Glasses Model Shipments Tracker. Consequently, the market surpassed the 2-million-unit milestone for the first time, marking an unprecedented pace of growth.

Global Smart Glasses Market Shipments Volume, 2024 vs 2023

Source: Counterpoint Global Smart Glasses Model Shipments Tracker, January 2025

*Note: These statistics include only smart glasses without see-through displays and optical components. The volume of AR glasses is excluded.

Counterpoint defines smart glasses as wearable computer devices that integrate electronic components into traditional eyewear to provide ‘smart’ functionalities beyond standard eyewear. Broadly defined, any eyewear that incorporates such features qualifies as smart glasses. However, in a narrower context, the term ‘smart glasses’ is often used to exclude AR-enabled devices, which are categorized separately as AR glasses. For the purposes of our reports, smart glasses refer only to glasses without see-through displays and optical systems.

AI smart glasses are a sub-category within smart glasses, incorporating AI technologies to deliver enhanced functionality and a more intelligent, interactive user experience. According to Counterpoint’s definition, devices must meet the following criteria to qualify as AI smart glasses:

• Integration of AI-capable processors: Must include a computing processor with a dedicated unit for processing AI tasks, such as a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), Data Processing Unit (DPU), or other AI accelerators. This allows the glasses to run tiny AI models and perform basic on-device AI tasks, such as voice assistance and pre-processing of data. Devices that rely solely on cloud AI or partner device-based AI, do not qualify as AI smart glasses under this definition.

• Voice interaction: Must be equipped with speaker(s) and microphone(s) to enable natural, seamless voice communication between the user and the device.

• Visual AI assistance: Must be equipped with camera(s) to ‘see’ the user’s surroundings, allowing for visual input processing and AI-assisted features like image recognition and contextual understanding.

• Must enable fast and stable wireless connectivity

Due to size, battery, and heat dissipation constraints in AI smart glasses, most AI workloads (e.g. running large AI models) will be handled in the cloud or on a connected partner device (e.g. a smartphone). On-device AI will mainly support basic tasks like noise reduction, voice assistant activation, and simple commands. While on-device AI capabilities are limited, they are crucial to qualify as ‘AI glasses’, distinguishing them from basic smart glasses that rely entirely on cloud or partner devices for AI functions.

Evolution of Product Functions: Basic Glasses vs Smart Audio Glasses vs AI Smart Glasses

Source: Counterpoint Global Smart Glasses Ecosystem & Market Trends, January 2025

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Catalyze Global Smart Glasses Market Growth

Based on our definitions, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are the first AI smart glasses in the market. They feature an NPU-integrated SoC, advanced camera and audio components. These technologies enable core smart functions like photo/video capture and audio playback, while leveraging on-device AI algorithms, smartphone-based edge AI, and Llama AI models to support a wide range of applications.

We believe that the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses redefine AI smart glasses in both definition and user experience. Before their launch, initial smart glasses primarily focused on hardware improvements such as connectivity, audio, and battery life to address issues like sound leakage, inaccurate voice pickup, and limited wear time. Although upgrades also expanded voice assistant capabilities, they did not fundamentally transform the user experience.

Following the launch of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, global market demand for smart glasses surged. According to Counterpoint’s Global Smart Glasses Model Shipments Tracker, global smart glasses shipments grew 156% YoY in 2023 and 210% YoY in 2024, with Meta alone capturing over 60% of the market share in 2024.

Following the success of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, a wave of new AI smart glasses – ranging from reference design products by supply chain companies to commercialized offerings from OEMs – has emerged since late 2024. By the end of January 2025, we observed the debut of over nine new AI smart glasses models, predominantly from China-based companies, signaling an aggressive push to follow Meta’s lead and capitalize on emerging market opportunities. These include Baidu’s Xiaodu AI glasses, Loomo AI glasses, RayNeo V3 AI camera glasses, and LOOKTECH AI glasses. Most of these brands are positioning their products by emphasizing improvements over the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, particularly in battery life, photo and video capabilities, and weight.

Looking ahead, we expect the first AI smart glasses in 2025 from smartphone leaders such as Xiaomi, Samsung, and Transsion, with more companies likely to enter the market throughout 2025 and 2026. The smart glasses supply chain expects 2025 to be ‘a war of hundreds of smart glasses’.

Competitive Landscape Evolution in Global Smart Glasses Market
Main Groups of Players

Source: Counterpoint Global Smart Glasses Ecosystem & Market Trends, January 2025

Amid the intensifying market competition, we expect Meta, the undisputed market leader, to pursue a more aggressive expansion strategy for its smart glasses business starting in 2025. It is expected to do so by expanding its product portfolio. With key industry players accelerating their growth and product launch plans, we expect the global smart glasses market to flourish going forward, achieving 60% YoY growth in 2025 and sustaining a CAGR of over 60% through 2029.

Global Smart Glasses Market Shipments Volume and YoY Growth (%), 2019-2029F

*Note: These statistics include only smart glasses without see-through displays and optical components. The volume of AR glasses is excluded.

Despite the optimistic market outlook from the supply side, our analysis of the AI smart glasses ecosystem indicates that while the market has a relatively low entry barrier, achieving success will be far from easy. Ray-Ban Meta’s success in the North American market may not be directly replicable for other companies, particularly in the Asian market. Furthermore, as most AI smart glasses are expected to rely on standardized components from mainstream suppliers, differentiation will be both challenging and essential for long-term success.

To remain competitive, industry players must not only learn from the key success factors of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses but also develop a deep understanding of the evolving technology ecosystem and market dynamics.

For a comprehensive analysis of market evolution, the competitive landscape, a case study on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, the technology ecosystem and supply chain, and our market forecast assumptions, please access the full Global Smart Glasses Ecosystem & Market Trends report via this link.

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media, and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects, and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

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