Augmented Reality (AR) smart glasses with artificial intelligence features have entered a global expansion phase. According to global XR headset shipment data released by Counterpoint Research on the 29th, worldwide AR smart glasses shipments last year jumped 98% from a year earlier, hitting an all-time high.
The growth accelerated in the second half. Shipments in the second half of last year rose 148% from a year earlier. Expanded production of Rokid Glasses, the launch of Meta's Ray-Ban display, and new releases from Chinese manufacturers lifted demand.
The technology stack is also changing. Shipments of waveguide models, which deliver and reflect light inside the lens to overlay information on the real-world view, surged more than 600%. The share of this approach expanded from 13% in the second half of 2024 to 38% in the second half of last year.
In video-style AR glasses, three companies—RayNeo, Xreal, and Viture—accounted for 96% of the second-half market. RayNeo topped shipments by leveraging low prices and an expanded distribution network. In the waveguide market, Rokid, Meta, Even Realities, INMO, and Alibaba are competing.
Companies are pushing AI features to the forefront beyond simple display, such as real-time translation, navigation, image recognition, and voice Q&A. Counterpoint analyzed that about 70% of waveguide AR glasses shipments in the second half of last year were AI glasses. The Meta Ray-Ban display launched in the United States at $799 and also supports gesture control linked to a wrist band.
The market outlook is bright, but there are variables. Rising memory prices could add to costs, and geopolitical tensions could affect supply chains and consumer sentiment. The industry expects AR glasses are more likely to first take hold as auxiliary devices that routinely invoke AI features rather than replace smartphones.