This should be good news for Apple’s rumored smart glasses as well as the Vision Pro: global broader AI glasses shipments, including display‑less AI glasses and AR & AI glasses, surged 263% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Intelligent Eyewear Market Tracker.
Lower‑priced, lightweight display‑less AI glasses continued to dominate, accounting for 96% of total shipments, while AR & AI glasses, most of which rely on waveguide lenses for optical see‑through experiences, remained relatively small and niche due to higher costs, lower technology maturity and bulkier form factors, notes the research group.
In the first half of 2026, the display‑less AI glasses segment grew 258% YoY and 22% compared with the second half of 2025, driven primarily by the continued expansion of Meta and EssilorLuxottica.
“Three years after the launch of the Ray‑Ban Meta AI Glasses in 2023, the competitive landscape of the global AI glasses market remains largely unchanged,” Counterpoint Research Vice President Peter Richardson said. “Meta further strengthened its dominance in the first half of 2026, accounting for about 94% of global shipments. Beyond Meta, the AI glasses market remains fragmented despite launches from Chinese players such as Alibaba and Huawei.”
He added that the AR and AI glasses segment remains relatively small but is growing rapidly, with shipments up 449% YoY and 18% sequentially in the first half of 2026.
Despite near-term challenges, Counterpoint expects the AI glasses market to maintain its strong growth trajectory as Meta, Google, Samsung and Apple intensify their investments and competition. The next phase of growth will be driven by agentic AI glasses offering more proactive, context-aware experiences, enabled by advancements in agent-integrated software, operating systems, voice interaction, and ultra-low-power sensing and computing technologies, according to the research group.
“These developments are expected to create new growth opportunities for component vendors in the AI glasses ecosystem,” says Counterpoint. “We also expect a wider range of AI glasses form factors to emerge to address privacy concerns associated with cameras, including camera-free AI audio glasses and AI glasses equipped with cameras primarily for contextual understanding rather than photo or video capture.”
About Apple’s smart glasses
In an April “Power On Newsletter, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said Apple is testing four different types of frames for its upcoming smart glasses (the rumored “Apple Glasses”):
° A large rectangular frame, reminiscent of Ray-Ban Wayfarers;
° A slimmer rectangular design;
° Larger oval or circular frames;
° A smaller, more refined oval or circular option
The body of the “Apple Glasses” will purportedly be made with acetate, one of the first synthetic fibers used in eyeglass frames, photographic films, and synthetic fabric. Gurman adds that Apple is exploring a variety of finishes, including black, ocean blue and light brown. He says that the front cameras on the glasses will be arranged in an oval pattern, surrounded by indicator lights.
The “Apple Glasses” are expected to be unveiled late this year or in early 2027 with a ship date in spring or summer of next year. You can read a found-up of rumors about the smart glasses here.
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