GoKawiilCounterpoint Research says global AI glasses shipments surged 263% during the first half of 2026, with Meta comfortably leading the display-less segment amid growing privacy concerns. Here are the details.
Meta dominates an increasingly controversial market
While Meta’s first-generation smart glasses, launched with Ray-Ban, failed to gain much traction, its second-generation devices have been far more successful.
Earlier this year, Francesco Milleri, CEO of Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica, said the two companies had sold more than 7 million AI glasses in 2025, putting a 10-million annual sales target within reach for the end of 2026.
Throughout the last year, Meta has largely had the display-less AI glasses market to itself, while most major rivals are still developing their own hardware.
Apple, for instance, is rumored to be developing its own display-less smart glasses to compete with Meta’s Ray-Bans, with a launch currently targeted for 2027. The glasses are expected to rely heavily on Siri and Apple Intelligence, with cameras, microphones, and speakers built into the frame, while a more advanced version with an AR display is reportedly still several years away.
In recent months, however, Meta’s camera-equipped smart glasses have faced increasing scrutiny, with the “perv glasses” label gaining traction as reports of non-consensual filming and harassment have drawn wider attention.
That said, Counterpoint Research says Meta still accounted for 94% of global display-less AI glasses shipments in the first half of 2026, with its volumes growing 260% year over year. Xiaomi and Alibaba came in at 1% each, with other brands accounting for the remaining 4%.
North America reportedly accounted for 50% of total shipments of display-less AI glasses, with Western Europe accounting for 28%, Australia for 4.4%, followed by the Asia-Pacific region with 4%, Latin America with 3.8%, India with 3.7%, China with 3%, and the UAE with 2%.
Here’s Counterpoint on how it sees this market going forward:
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