China's smart glasses market recorded strong performance in 2025 with total shipment surging 87.1 percent to 2.46 million, and is expected to continue the momentum as new products are released in quick succession.

In an eyewear store in Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, many customers were seen trying on and purchasing smart glasses.

"My first impression was how incredibly light it is. When I go cycling at night, I can use its navigation function," said a customer.

"I work in the film and television industry, so the picture quality and color accuracy are important for me. The official price is around 4,200 (about 614 U.S. dollars) to 4,300 yuan, but with the national subsidy, it drops to about 3,800 yuan, which I find quite acceptable," said another customer.

A store manager said the sales have grown noticeably since November 2025, with a further surge following the recent launches of new products.

"Without a prescription, it takes about one week to receive the glasses. For custom pairs with prescriptions, it takes around 25 days. In the first two weeks of April, our sales have already nearly doubled compared to the entire month of March," said a store manager.

Industry insiders attributed the rapid growth in smart glasses sales to multiple factors, including the practical application of AI large models in terminal devices, the successive release of new products, and supportive national consumption subsidy policies.

Their functionality has evolved beyond basic voice interaction, photography, and navigation, which is deeply integrating AI capabilities and expanding into diverse scenarios such as office, travel, and smart home.

From January to February 2026, domestic shipments of smart glasses totaled 424,000 units, up 36.2 percent year on year, while online retail sales surged 183.5 percent, according to data from China's Ministry of Commerce.