AI Glasses Shipments Surged 263% in H1 2026 as Apple Prepares to Enter the Market

As Android XR nears, smart glasses are only getting more popular despite Meta backlash

There’s been a near-constant stream of backlash against Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses in recent months, but that hasn’t stopped people from buying them, as a new report reveals that shipments have grown by over 250%. more…

Apple's Smart Glasses to Enter a Rapidly Growing Market

Apple's first smart glasses could arrive in a rapidly expanding market, with worldwide AI glasses shipments increasing 263% year-over-year during the first half of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. The figures are particularly relevant for Apple because display-less products accounted for 96% of shipments. Apple's initial smart glasses are likewise rumored to omit an augmented reality display, focusing instead on audio, cameras, Siri, an…

AI Glasses Shipments Rise 263% As Meta Dominates Global Market – channelnews

Global shipments of AI-powered glasses surged 263% year-on-year during the first half of 2026, according to new findings from Counterpoint Research. Counterpoint’s Global Intelligent Eyewear Market Tracker found that display-less AI glasses represented 96% of total AI glasses shipments during the six months to June. Shipments of display-less AI glasses increased 258% year-on-year and 22% compared with the second half of 2025. Counterpoint attributed the growth primarily to Meta and EssilorLuxottica expanding their product ranges, entering additional markets and increasing promotional activity. Meta is the dominant player in the category with the company accounting for approximately 94% of global display-less AI glasses shipments during the first half of the year. Its shipments rose 260% year-on-year and 22% sequentially. The growth has been supported by additional Ray-Ban Meta variants, lower-priced Meta Glasses, expansion into new markets and broader retail distribution. Counterpoint’s Research Vice President Peter Richardson said the competitive landscape had changed little since the launch of Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses in 2023, with Meta strengthening its position. In the augmented reality (AR) and AI glasses market, shipments in this smaller segment increased 449% year-on-year and 18% sequentially. The category remains niche compared with display-less products. Chinese manufacturers are driving much of the AR and AI glasses market, with companies like Rokid, Even Realities, Alibaba and INMO speeding up product launches. China accounted for 45% of the segment’s shipments in the first half, just ahead of North America at around 41%. Counterpoint Principal Analyst Flora Tang said China’s established supply chain for micro-displays, waveguides, audio components and manufacturing is helping local companies bring products to market faster as well as refine them through user feedback. Despite the rapid growth, the industry faces challenges, including higher memory and semiconductor costs and growing concerns around privacy, especially around those glasses embedded with cameras. Counterpoint says it expects these issues to create uncertainty but also predicts they are not likely to derail broader growth. The research firm expects competition to intensify as Meta, Google, Samsung and Apple increase their investment in AI glasses. Future products are expected to move towards “agentic AI”, which will offer assistance that is more proactive and context aware, featuring improvements in software, voice interaction, sensing and low-power computing. With privacy concerns continuing, there is also the potential for camera-free AI audio glasses to emerge. These could broaden the appeal of AI-powered eyewear beyond today’s camera-equipped versions.

The smart glasses market has more than doubled in the last year, with Meta dominating

Credit: Chase Bernath / Android Authority TL;DR Global AI glasses shipments jumped 263% year over year in H1 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. Display-less models accounted for 96% of shipments, with Meta holding a dominant 94% share of that segment. Shipments of AR glasses surged 449% year over year, albeit from a low base. Smart glasses might still feel like a niche category of tech, but they seem to be selling at a much faster clip t…

AI glasses shipments surged 263% in H1 2026 as Apple prepares to enter the market

Counterpoint Research says global AI glasses shipments surged 263% during the first half of 2026, with Meta comfortably leading the display-less segment amid growing privacy concerns. Here are the details. more…