15 percent government discount, 200 percent sales surge, prices from 100 to 5,000 yuan, and foreigners who first buy one pair and then order dozens

As reported by CCTV+, Huaqiangbei — one of the world’s largest electronics markets — is seeing a sharp rise in orders for Chinese AI powered smart glasses. This is thanks to a national subsidy programme and growing popularity in overseas markets.

In January, AI smart glasses were included in China’s national subsidy programme for the first time. Buyers receive a 15 percent discount, capped at 500 yuan (about 74 US dollars). At the Huawei brand store, many customers came specifically for the new glasses.

A buyer from Inner Mongolia, surnamed Liu, said: “Many things that are inconvenient to do on a mobile phone can be done with these glasses. For example, taking photos: I can just talk to the glasses after seeing what I want to capture, and they do the job.”

Wu Yinan, a product experience consultant at the Huawei store, said: “In May, our sales rose 25 percent compared to April. This product, originally priced at 2,499 yuan (about 369 dollars), qualifies for the 15 percent state subsidy, bringing the final price down to just over 2,100 yuan.”

Data from JD.com showed that in May, sales of popular AI smart glasses jumped more than 200 percent year on year. Huaqiangbei offers an impressive range of AI smart glasses from various brands, with prices ranging from 100 to 5,000 yuan. Lately, they have been attracting many foreign buyers, including business owners looking to resell them in their home countries.

Yuan Xiaoyuan, a vendor, said: “We have many overseas customers. These glasses can be used for photo, video and audio recording, making and receiving calls, and translation. They just use the glasses to capture their life in first person view.”

Wang Chengzhu, deputy general manager of the Huaqiangbei electronics market, added: “Some foreign buyers may first purchase one or two units. But after trying them on the overseas market and getting very good feedback, they immediately place additional orders — potentially dozens or even hundreds.” Huaqiangbei is a famous electronics market in Shenzhen, one of the largest in the world. AI smart glasses allow users to take photos, record videos, answer calls and translate speech in real time.

Chinese AI glasses are no longer just a gadget. They have become a tool that changes how people interact with reality. Taking a photo with a glance, translating speech on the fly, capturing a first person view — all of this is now available for just over 2,100 yuan after the subsidy. Sales have soared 200 percent. Foreign businessmen are snapping them up by the dozen. The question is not whether smart glasses will become mainstream. They already have. The question is when we will stop looking at the world through a smartphone screen and start looking through glass that thinks for us. Huaqiangbei already knows the answer.