Enabling the next generation of smart glasses
gf.com, Apr. 30, 2025 –
Smart glasses were a hot topic at CES 2025 and are being touted as the next big category in wearables. Counterpoint Research estimates global smart glasses shipments to increase significantly, from under 3 million units shipped in 2024 to nearly 45 million units shipped annually by 2030.
In the past year, the smart glasses industry has transformed with sleek, lightweight designs and a variety of features easily controlled by voice commands as well as integrated micro-displays.
The evolution of smart glasses
Initial smart glasses technologies had limited appeal with consumers. Enabling only audio and camera capabilities that come standard on modern smartphones, these gadgets were seen as a niche play with few additional use cases.
With the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and advancements in micro-display capabilities that can be integrated into smart glasses, their appeal has drastically increased. These advancements address needs that do not have elegant solutions today. From general consumer use cases like real time translation and navigation to more specific uses like summarizing notes in a meeting or tracking key health parameters for athletes, these next generation of AI-enabled smart glasses are unlocking new frontiers and applications that consumers may not have imagined.
As technology further evolves, several vendors believe that full Augmented Reality (AR) glasses could be the next personal computer, offering a mobile and personalized way to work, connect and entertain. Though the journey to mainstream full AR glasses is still further away, smart glasses are making an indelible mark in the wearable device market.
Real estate and power challenges
Nearly 3 billion people across the world use glasses, and most are accustomed to very light weight frames (< 35 grams) that can be worn comfortably throughout the day. This constraint has created significant real estate challenges and power consumption limitations for all functional additions to smart glasses such as cameras, displays, and batteries.
These challenges have spurred the adoption of new micro-display technologies that can meet the space and power figures of merit (FOMs) while providing the brightness needed to enable displays in ambient light. This innovation in display technology is crucial for the advancement of smart glasses.
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