China’s smart glasses market is heating up fast. A new forecast from IDC suggests shipments could hit 2.9 million units in 2025, up 121% year-on-year, as lower prices and AI features drive demand.
In the first quarter alone, 494,000 units were shipped — up 116% compared to last year. Audio and audio-capturing models led the pack with 359,000 units, almost triple the previous year’s number. IDC points to falling prices, a stronger supply chain, and growing consumer interest as key factors. Average prices have dropped from several thousand yuan to around 1,000 yuan (~$140), opening the door to a wider audience.
Who’s leading
Xiaomi and Huawei remain strong players in online sales, while smaller firms are pushing features such as real-time translation and health tracking. Huawei, Alibaba, and ByteDance are also investing heavily, adding pressure to the market. AI-powered glasses have been the main growth driver so far, reportedly making up 78% of Q1 shipments. Offline sales are growing too, up 75% year-on-year.
IDC expects even stronger numbers in the second half of 2025 thanks to seasonal sales peaks. Analyst Wang Haoyu predicts smart glasses could soon move beyond early adopters into fitness, business, and accessibility markets. With growth outpacing global rivals like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, China could set the pace for what some are calling the “Hundred Lens War” in 2026.
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(Via)
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