As Android XR nears, smart glasses are only getting more popular despite Meta backlash
There’s been a near-constant stream of backlash against Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses in recent months, but that hasn’t stopped people from buying them, as a new report reveals that shipments have grown by over 250%. more…
Despite Meta facing backlash over its Ray-Ban smart glasses, their shipments have surged by more than 250% in the first half of 2026, according to a new report by Counterpoint Research. The AI smart glasses market has expanded by 263% year-over-year, with Meta dominating the market with over 94% of the market share, held by its Ray-Ban and self-branded models. Xiaomi and Alibaba follow with 1% each in second and third place.
Display-less glasses comprise 96% of all shipments, with a handful of brands, including Rokid, Meta, Even Realities, and others, capturing the remaining 4% of the market. However, the segment of display-less glasses is experiencing a remarkable growth rate of nearly 450% year-over-year.
While there are no specific figures provided for the exact number of smart glasses units being shipped or sold, North America leads the market for display-less smart glasses, holding a 50% share of the global market. China, on the other hand, takes a slightly larger share in the market for glasses equipped with displays.
The competition is heating up as Samsung and Google are set to launch the first Android XR-powered smart glasses. The initial release will be display-less, emphasizing integration with Android and Gemini for seamless interaction through smartphones, Wear OS watches, and audio.
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