According to the latest near-eye display industry survey from TrendForce, the deep integration of AI and wearable devices, coupled with the market feedback for the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses significantly exceeding expectations, has led to substantial upward revisions in orders for multiple key components over the past six months. With major players fueling this momentum, TrendForce estimates that global AR glasses shipments will surge to 950,000 units in 2026, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 53%. TrendForce's supply chain survey results indicate that Meta initially adopted a relatively conservative stance on AR glasses market demand, influenced by past VR device sales performance and constrained supply of key optical components. Taking Lumus' array waveguide as an example, due to its relatively complex and precise manufacturing process, Meta's initial order was only about 80,000 units, a scale intended to test market reception. Within six months of the product's launch, the procurement pace accelerated rapidly, with recent orders expanding to 150,000 units, an increase of 87.5%. Orders for other key components, such as OmniVision's Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS), Goertek's optical engine assembly, and SCHOTT's key optical waveguide components, have also shown step-like growth. To cope with the progressively intensifying procurement demand, upstream display and assembly-related OEM systems are simultaneously optimizing production lines and improving yield rates to assist Meta in achieving its phased goal of accumulating 500,000 units in shipments within the next two years. TrendForce states that this situation reflects extremely fast sell-through rates in sales channels, indicates continued high consumer curiosity about AI-enabled smart glasses with displays, and signifies that Meta's strategic adjustments in wearables have, to some extent, alleviated market concerns stemming from weak past VR device sales. In the short term, Meta's success is expected to accelerate hardware specification upgrades for AR glasses by other brands and ecosystem partners, alongside a deepening of AI application scenarios and integration of software ecosystems. However, before Meta releases its next-generation product, major players like Samsung and Google are also poised to launch their own branded AR glasses. Whether the existing supply chain's capacity and yield rates for key segments like optics, displays, and assembly can keep pace with rapidly scaling market demand will be crucial for the industry's smooth expansion. Furthermore, as the initial novelty gradually fades, consumers will subject the product's practical utility and AI experience to stricter scrutiny. Only by diligently balancing comfortable user experience, reasonable pricing, and a complete content ecosystem can brands meet the rising market expectations for AR glasses and successfully transition to the next growth phase. TrendForce forecasts that, with continuous participation from major players driving market expansion, AR glasses shipments will reach 32.11 million units by 2030.
Comments