Report: AI glasses shipments surged 263% in H1 2026 as Apple prepares to enter the market

Global shipments of AI glasses without displays surged by an astounding 263% during the first half of 2026, with Meta leading the charge amid rising concerns over privacy, according to Counterpoint Research. Meta's second-generation glasses have been far more successful than its first-generation Ray-Ban smart glasses, which failed to gain much traction in the market.

Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica CEO Francesco Milleri stated that the two companies had sold over 7 million AI glasses in 2025, putting them on track to meet a 10-million annual sales target by the end of 2026. While Meta dominated the display-less AI glasses market, capturing 94% of global shipments, Apple is reportedly developing its own display-less smart glasses to compete, with a launch anticipated for 2027.

These glasses are expected to incorporate Siri and Apple Intelligence, featuring built-in cameras, microphones, and speakers, while an AR display version remains several years away. However, Meta's camera-equipped smart glasses have faced increased scrutiny, with the "perv glasses" label gaining popularity due to reports of non-consensual filming and harassment.

Despite these challenges, Counterpoint predicts that the AI glasses market will maintain its strong growth trajectory as major players like Meta, Google, Samsung, and Apple continue to intensify their investments and competition. The report anticipates advancements in agentic AI glasses that will offer proactive, context-aware experiences, driven by advancements in agent-integrated software, operating systems, voice interaction, and ultra-low-power sensing and computing technologies.

This will create new growth opportunities for component vendors and lead to a wider range of AI glasses form factors to address privacy concerns.