The AI smart glasses category just had one of the fastest growth years any consumer tech segment has seen in a decade. Global shipments reached 8.7 million units in 2025, a 322% jump compared to the year before, according to research firm Omdia. That is not a typo. A category that most people wrote off as a gimmick after Google Glass flopped in 2013 is now selling at smartphone-like velocity. Here is what happened, who won, and what it means if you are in Pakistan looking to buy one.
Why AI Smart Glasses Took Off in 2025
The short answer is that the hardware finally stopped looking like hardware. Smart glasses are growing faster than VR headsets because they are lighter, more wearable, and designed for everyday use. The industry’s center of gravity has shifted toward lightweight, AI-enabled wearables that look like ordinary glasses.
For the first time, smart glasses represented roughly half of all XR shipments worldwide, up from around 25% in 2024. That shift matters because it means the market is no longer being driven by enterprise buyers or hobbyists. Everyday consumers are picking these up.
Price is a big part of the story too. Ray-Ban Meta starts at $299. Meta recently announced a new affordable lineup starting at just $299, which is $80 less than the previous second-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. At that level, these glasses compete with a mid-range phone, not a luxury gadget.
The AI features sealed the deal. The glasses are powered by Meta’s newest multimodal AI model. It can answer questions about what you are seeing, translate conversations in real time, or capture photos and videos hands-free.
Meta Still Owns the AI Smart Glasses Market
Meta remains the dominant force globally, holding the largest share of the global market at 85.2%. Meta’s AI glasses shipments reached 7.4 million units, representing a growth rate of 281.3%, driven by strong performance from the Oakley and second-generation Ray-Ban-branded AI glasses, supported by Meta’s efforts to expand into new markets, including India, Mexico, Brazil, and others.
Smart glasses revenue inside Meta, at $2.15 billion, exceeded Quest hardware revenue of $660 million for the first time in 2025. That is a remarkable shift. The company that spent billions building virtual reality worlds is now making more money from a stylish pair of sunglasses with a camera and a speaker.
Alongside Meta, EssilorLuxottica released a hardware refresh of its popular Ray-Ban Meta glasses, as well as Oakley Meta HSTN, Oakley Meta Vanguard, and the $800 Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, the company’s first smart glasses to include a heads-up display. You can explore the full Ray-Ban Meta lineup on Meta’s official site.
XREAL and the Rise of Display Glasses
While Meta dominates the audio-AI segment, a different battle is happening in display-equipped glasses. These are devices that overlay digital information on your actual view of the world.
XREAL has held the number one market position for four consecutive years. Total 2025 shipments came to approximately 912,000 units, up roughly 50% from 2024. The XREAL One series, priced at $299 to $399, has been the primary volume driver, a price point low enough to reach enthusiast consumers without requiring enterprise sales cycles. You can check the full XREAL One lineup at XREAL’s official website.
The share of AI glasses with displays saw a notable increase, rising from 3.3% in 2024 to 8.4% in 2025. Chinese companies, including Rokid, Alibaba, and Even Realities, dominated the market, accounting for 71% of these display-equipped AI glasses.
China Is the Wildcard Changing the Whole Game
AI glasses shipments in mainland China reached 950,000 units in 2025, up 3,545% from the previous year. Xiaomi led the market with a 31.9% share, followed by Rokid at 28.5% and Alibaba at 15.9%.
The entry of smartphone and automotive manufacturers, such as Xiaomi and Li Auto, reflects a broader shift in how the industry positions AI glasses. Chinese brands are building display-heavy models at aggressive price points that are forcing everyone to rethink what these devices should cost.
What 2026 Looks Like for AI Smart Glasses
The category is not slowing down. Omdia forecasts that global shipments of AI glasses will surpass 15 million units in 2026. This growth will be driven by major device vendors and tech giants entering the market, Meta increasing production and expanding into new regions, and rising local players in India, Japan, and South Korea.
Bloomberg has reported that Apple is aiming to release smart glasses by end of 2026 as part of a broader push into AI-enhanced products. The first model will match Ray-Ban Meta’s camera, microphone, and AI feature set, with Siri serving as the primary interface.
Smart glasses are quickly becoming the next big thing, with nearly every major brand looking to enter the space. Lenovo showcased its smart glasses concept at CES 2026, while Samsung has announced plans to launch its own pair in 2026. Google is also building on Android XR, with both models running Gemini. The XREAL collaboration, Project Aura, brings Android XR to a full XR glasses form factor with a 70-degree field of view, set to launch in fall 2026 at a base price capped at $1,500.
This also links to a broader hardware push from Meta. For context on how Meta is building its own chip ambitions to power future devices, see our earlier coverage of Meta’s AI chip Iris heading to production.
What Pakistani Consumers Should Know
Here is the part most global tech coverage skips. Meta does not officially sell Ray-Ban Meta glasses in Pakistan. There is no Meta retail partner, no official warranty support, and no local service centre. However, grey-market imports through online retailers are available, with some local shops listing Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 units. Expect to pay a significant premium over the US price after duties and import costs are added.
Xiaomi’s smart glasses are in a similar position. They are a real product, officially announced but not yet widely available in Pakistan. Some advanced AI features, like visual translation, may currently be limited to certain regions or the Mi Home ecosystem. Xiaomi is working on software updates for global support.
XREAL glasses, used mainly as large virtual screens for gaming and media, are also not officially distributed here yet. Buyers import them through services like Shipsy or ask friends travelling abroad to bring them back.
If you do buy a pair through grey channels, check these things first: (1) whether the AI assistant works without a VPN in Pakistan, (2) whether WhatsApp and local apps are supported, and (3) whether there is any recourse if the hardware fails.
AI glasses encounter challenges such as privacy concerns from built-in cameras and microphones, as well as social resistance to all-day wear. In Pakistan, there is also a legal angle. Recording people in public is generally allowed, but recording inside private spaces or near sensitive locations without consent can run into PECA 2016 rules. Keep that in mind before using these in crowded areas.
The bottom line: AI smart glasses are a real, fast-growing product category. The global numbers are hard to argue with. For Pakistani users, 2026 is a year to watch closely, but it is not quite the year to buy unless you are comfortable navigating grey imports and potential feature limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are AI smart glasses?
AI smart glasses look like regular eyewear but have built-in cameras, microphones, speakers, and an AI assistant. You talk to them hands-free to ask questions, take photos, translate speech in real time, or get information about what you are looking at. Most current models do not have a screen inside the lens, though display-equipped versions are growing fast.
How much did AI smart glasses shipments grow in 2025?
According to Omdia, global shipments of AI glasses in 2025 reached 8.7 million units, marking a significant 322% increase, fueled by a surge of interest in this emerging AI device category.
Are Meta Ray-Ban glasses available in Pakistan?
Meta does not have an official presence in Pakistan for its smart glasses. Some grey-market sellers list them online, but prices are higher than in the US and there is no official warranty. Always confirm which AI features work in Pakistan before buying.
Who else is entering the AI smart glasses market in 2026?
By 2030, Apple, Samsung, and Meta are expected to emerge as the top three global AI smart glasses vendors. Google is also in the race with its Android XR platform. Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Rokid, and RayNeo are already shipping competitive products, often at lower prices than Western options.
