This should be good news for Apple’s rumored smart glasses (“Apple Glasses”): the global smart glasses market grew 139% year-over-year in the second half of 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. From the report:
AI smart glasses accounted for 88% of total shipments in H2 ° 2025, while demand for basic smart audio glasses softened, further shifting the product mix toward AI-enabled models.
° Meta further strengthened its market leadership in H2 2025, with its shipment share rising to 82% following new product launches. The brand dominated the global rankings for best-selling smart glasses.
° North America led the market in the second half of 2025 with 37% of total shipments. China’s share declined to 6% as new product launches remained low-volume and overall growth was fragmented.
° Smart glasses shipments are expected to see strong growth in 2026 and beyond, supported by aggressive expansion plans from leading players and the entry of new brands. However, the ongoing memory price increases may pose some headwinds.
About Apple Glasses
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple’s smart glasses will be previewed, if not actually available, by year’s end.
“Early prototypes of the glasses connect via a cable to a standalone battery pack and an iPhone, but newer versions have the components embedded in the frame,” Gurman says. “The design uses high-end materials, including acrylic elements intended to give the glasses a premium feel. Apple is already discussing launching the device in additional styles over time.”
He says the smart glasses will pack a high-resolution camera for photo and video capture. Apple’s prototypes have two camera lenses: one for high-resolution images and videos, and another for “computer vision” that will “give the device environmental context,” Gurman says.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously predicted that Apple will ship 3-5 million units or more of the device. He says core features will include audio playback, camera, video recording, and AI environmental sensing. Kue also thinks that Apple will offer multiple material options for frames and temples, with Apple actively testing 3D printing technology for production.
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