The ongoing CES 2025 is witnessing a remarkable surge of interest in smart glasses, which are rapidly emerging as a pivotal segment within the tech landscapeFuelled by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and augmented reality, these smart eyewear solutions have caught the attention of both consumers and industry stakeholders alike.

Last August marked a significant moment when Meta took the lead in the burgeoning AI glasses market, igniting a wave of innovation and inspiring various tech enterprisesOver the past few months, a flurry of new products has emerged, marking an exciting turning point for AI glassesSeveral companies, including Lei Shen Technology from China and Le Xiang Technology, backed by Kaiying Network and known for its Dapeng VR, have announced new AI glasses offerings for CES 2025. Loomos, a new overseas sub-brand from Shanjiji, has launched the Loomos AI glasses, while Thunderbird Innovations unveiled its first Thunderbird V3 AI shooting glasses, featuring an intent recognition model customized by Alibaba

This collaboration exemplifies the deepening relationship between AI hardware and large-scale models, creating promising prospects.

The potential for AI glasses to become the next universal computing platform is more evident than everThe profound expectation surrounding these devices stems from the convergence of AI applications and wearable technology, which many anticipate will redefine how computing demands are met in our daily lives.

The notion of a next-generation computing platform encompasses utilizing new modes of interaction via vision, sound, motion, and language, thereby fundamentally transforming the capabilities of edge devicesIn an era where smartphones, intelligent in-car terminals, and wearables meld seamlessly with daily routines, smart glasses emerge as an optimal candidate capable of integrating AI technology smoothly.

Although smartphones have traditionally provided the most interactive experience, the rising capability of edge AI technology leads consumers to seek a new computing platform that extends human capacity around the clock, enhancing the efficiency of human-machine interactions

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Smart glasses, due to their unique hardware requirements and multi-modal AI potential, have positioned themselves as significant contenders in this evolving landscape.

The race for advanced AI glasses has attracted substantial investmentsFor instance, Thunderbird Innovations, referred to as one of the "AR Four Dragons," raised over 500 million yuan in the past six months, while other companies like Rokid, XREAL, and Yingmu Technology have also secured funding in the hundreds of millionsEven new entrants like Shanjiji are making their mark following successful funding rounds.

Commercialization seems imminent, as evidenced by the recent introduction of Shanjiji’s first AI glasses, the Shanjiji AI “Snap Mirror” A1, indicating a new phase of mass production for homegrown AI eyewear.

According to recent research from Guojin Securities, there are as many as 50 teams in China working on AI glasses, with international giants like Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, OpenAI, and Amazon also establishing their foothold in this promising domain

Several of these companies plan to launch products as soon as next year, further solidifying the expectation that 2025 will be a pivotal year for product realization.

The competitive landscape is expanding as tech powerhouses enter the arenaDomestic giants such as Baidu, ByteDance, Huawei, and Honor have thrown their hats into the ring, joining forces with XR manufacturing companies and various model developersNotably, Baidu has already rolled out the "Little Du AI Glasses," while Huawei introduced its 2nd generation intelligent glasses last MayXiaomi is set to unveil AI glasses that it co-developed with Goertek in 2025.

Even companies with deep-rooted traditional backgrounds are stepping into the spotlight, with Skyworth Digital focusing on smart devices, having established itself as a legitimate AI glasses manufacturerIts subsidiary, Skyworth New World, has rolled out numerous products, including the Pancake series of VR all-in-one devices, targeted short-focus VR glasses, mixed-reality all-in-one machines, and light-interactive AR glasses equipped with AI functionalities.

Skyworth Digital is a quintessential example of a company that seamlessly combines manufacturing expertise with a focus on digital innovations

With years of investment in the XR terminal business since as early as 2015, the company has achieved significant milestones through enduring product and technological iterationsIts Skyworth New World division has established collaborative projects with major overseas clients, aiming to expand its XR applications across markets in Japan, India, the United States, and South Korea.

At CES 2024, Skyworth unveiled the MR Pancake 2, an XR computing space device positioned as a direct competitor to Apple's Vision ProThis product stands out not only for being the first of its kind in the world but also holds the distinction of being the first domestic model to integrate single-eye 4K MR capabilitiesFuture iterations are expected to leverage Qualcomm's XR2+Gen2 chip, promising lower distortion, reduced latency, and enhanced clarity.

Additionally, Skyworth launched its first light-interactive AR glasses, the Skyworth A1, which can connect with smartphones and OTT boxes for a high-definition viewing experience

This innovation supports gaming console outputs and is versatile for various applications, including cinema, conference calls, reading, and entertainment.

These advancements stem from Skyworth Digital's dedication to building a robust software ecosystem in tandem with its manufacturing capabilitiesIts R&D center houses a Smart Research Institute and includes teams focused on AI algorithm development in computer vision, natural language processing, and gesture recognition, among others.

The escalating costs have historically hindered the mass commercialization of related devicesHowever, the burgeoning interest in more affordable AI glasses is a response to the increasing market demandSkyworth Digital's XR products leverage its expertise from years of working in set-top box markets, enabling a synergistic effect that positions them for clear commercialization routes.

Furthermore, on the global stage, Skyworth has signed enterprise-level service agreements with Microsoft, covering ChatGPT commercial services, overseas cloud resource utilization, and more

They've also developed an OTT box equipped with ChatGPT AI services, planning to present this product in overseas exhibitions and expand into European markets.

In the domestic market, Skyworth has forged strong partnerships with industry heavyweights like Baidu, Huawei, Tencent, and iFLYTEK, integrating advanced models with its smart set-top boxes and projectors for rigorous testing and development.

The dual focus on AI and AR has led Skyworth to develop systems that emphasize computing via set-top boxes and engaging NLP interactions through AR glasses, illustrating significant advancements in the functionalities of their end-user products, such as the Skyworth A1.

As of the first half of 2024, the company has launched smart hardware with AI technology applications, achieving impressive sales figures in North America for AI-enabled gaming set-top boxes with camera and NPU edge computing capabilities.

Skyworth has also indicated on its investor interaction platform that its AI-sensing game device, Nex Playground, is currently performing well in the U.S

market, although local sales in China are still being strategizedMoreover, they plan to continue investing in next-generation MR and AR eyewear that consumers can look forward to shortly.

The synergy between XR smart glasses and newly designed set-top box products may help stabilize Skyworth Digital's revenue fluctuations, potentially elevating its performance in 2025 to unprecedented heights.

As we usher into a new era, AI glasses are not merely experimental products but are solidifying their presence as pragmatic solutions supported by solid industry logicThe growing indications of robust demand have begun to surface, as recent data from Sensor Tower shows a striking 200% increase in downloads for the Meta View app in October 2024, signifying a robust market appetite.

Guojin Securities forecasts that one of the leading products, the Ray-Ban Meta, could reach sales figures of 6 million units

Additionally, domestic interest in the Shanjiji A1 is promising; reports suggest that its initial pre-sales sold out within 24 hours, achieving the originally planned production of 50,000 units ahead of the Spring Festival.

In contrast, Apple’s Vision Pro headset, despite the earlier hype due to its features, struggled to gain market traction, attributed mainly to its hefty price tag of $3,500, leading to suspension reportsThis indicates that while the functionalities of smart glasses may not be groundbreaking, affordability remains a pivotal factor in consumer decision-making.

The trajectory for smart glasses mimics earlier trends in the smartphone industry, where identifying core users allows for subsequent mass market capture followed by product tieringPresently, many domestic AI glasses are priced within the $300–$379 range, presenting a more accessible entry point compared to their counterparts like Ray-Ban Meta.

Simultaneously, the production of AI glasses signals a collective industry commitment to engaging collaborative efforts, as evidenced by the plethora of launches and showcases at CES 2025. Major firms including Samsung, Xiaomi, ByteDance, and Meta have slated product releases for the upcoming year, while Apple is anticipated to make its mark in 2026.

The convergence of fundamental supply and demand dynamics, coupled with the ongoing resurgence in consumer electronics, suggests that AI glasses may very well emerge as a pivotal theme throughout 2025, driving innovation and engagement across the market.