着眼未来：智能眼镜

Eyes on the future: Smart glasses Key takeaways •AI glasses, a type of smart eyeglasses that provide audio and visual capabilities to users, have gained traction since early 2024.With tech giants entering the space and shipments expected to exceed 10 million units in 2025, AI glasses are currently drivingthe smart glasses market - but consumer interest may fall as augmented reality (AR) glasses gain momentum. •AR glasses offer a richer, more interactive experience, as they are capable of overlaying digital content onto the real world,thanks to advanced components like waveguides and micro-displays. Though heavier and more expensive, AR glasses areexpected to mature by 2027 and could surpass AI glasses in volume by 2030, reshaping how users engage with wearable tech. •The future of smart glasses hinges on expanding applications - from navigation and translation to social media and real-timeinteraction. As AR glasses integrate more sensors and tracking capabilities, they're poised to become a complementaryaccessory to smartphones, driving sustainable growth through a broader ecosystem. Seeing smarter: AI vs. AR in focusSmart glasses are wearable devices that integrate technology into traditional eyeglass frames.1There are two common types– artificial intelligence (AI) glasses and augmented reality (AR) glasses–that are gaining momentum. In fact, according toForrester’s 2025 Consumer Technology Insights Survey, roughly 17% of US adults indicate they have used smart glasses–upfrom 4% in 2024.2Why? For one, the last few years have been hallmarked by rapid advances in artificial intelligence that givesmart glasses more functionality, allowing users to interact with the world in new ways in real-time.3 AI glassesAI glasses, which provide users with audio and visual capabilities, have gained popularity since early 2024. Per BofA Global Research, this rise can be attributed to their lightweight, stylish design, easy content creation via first-person view, and AI-embedded functions. AI glasses are usually equipped with one 12MP (megapixel) camera, acoustics (i.e. speakers and a microphone), and a battery, andare powered by a system on a chip (SoC) with AI-embedded software. In turn, they provide basic functions like listening to music,the ability to take a photo or video, and AI-powered capabilities to gather information. Notably, all functions are audio/video only,and do not include any type of display, meaning they have simpler hardware features with a lower bill of materials (BOM) cost. Smart glasses manufacturers are focused on delivering a lightweight, compact design with a stylish appearance, making thempractical for everyday use and potential replacements for day-to-day sunglasses or prescription glasses. Currently, most AIglasses weigh around 40-50g, close to normal eyeglasses’18-38g. AR glasses AR glasses, on the other hand, are deemed to be the“ultimate”form of smart glasses. While they maintain a similar design to AIglasses, they provide a more integrated experience. Besides the basic functions provided by AI glasses, AR glasses can be moreinteractive with functions like navigation (driving/cycling), simultaneous translation (daily communication, traveling),teleprompting (presentations), calls and messages, and AI-powered information push (audio/text). AR glasses feature a see-through function that lets users view the real world while overlaying digital content. This is madepossible by an optical combiner–typically a waveguide–which merges physical and virtual visuals into a single, seamlessdisplay. However, as AR glasses feature more components than AI glasses (Exhibit 1), they also weigh more, which, combined with cost, are two important considerations when it comes to user experience. The majority of current AR glasses weigh inabove 49g, with many in the 70-95g range. Exhibit1:AR glasses contain all of the same components as AI glasses, but with several added that help enable aricher experience. However, thesecomponents also make AR glasses a bit bulkier in size.Smart glasses components, AI and AR A new way to listen: Smart glasses in actionSmart glasses have many practical everyday use cases. For example, they could be utilized as a discreet hearing aid. This is a sizeable market for the industry as the World Health Organization believes roughly 20% of the world’s population experiencessome degree of hearing loss.4 What would this look like in practice? With AI glasses, the technology could leverage built-in microphones to pick up externalsounds in front of the lenses and amplify it via speakers in or near the user’s ear. This could help a partially deaf individual hearbetter in loud or noisy environments. AR glasses, on the other hand, are capable of taking a slightly different approach, as they also have display capabilities. Using itsmicrophone to pick up conversations, AR glasses could then transcribe conversations/dialogue in the user’s field of vision–likereading subtitles duri