Although smart glasses are currently considered niche tech gadgets, the market has witnessed a remarkable acceleration in growth. During the first half of 2026, global shipments of AI glasses surged by 263% compared to the same period the previous year, with screen-free AI glasses dominating the market landscape. Their shipments not only increased by 258% year-on-year but also rose by 22% when compared to the second half of 2025. Despite representing a smaller portion of the market, smart glasses equipped with AR displays experienced rapid expansion, with shipments skyrocketing by 449% year-on-year. Rokid and Meta emerged as the frontrunners in this segment, with the Chinese market contributing a significant 45% to the shipments within this niche sector. The industry is currently grappling with challenges such as escalating component costs and growing concerns over camera privacy. However, these issues are not anticipated to impede the overall growth trajectory. Looking ahead, it is expected that more devices will be developed to circumvent privacy concerns, as exemplified by Meta's exploration of camera-free smart glasses that focus on microphone and AI technologies.