New Delhi: Shipments of augmented reality (AR) smart glasses have seen a remarkable surge, almost doubling compared to last year, according to a new report released on Monday.
The analysis by Counterpoint reveals that global shipments of AR smart glasses grew by 98% in 2025. The second half of the year saw even more impressive growth, with shipments increasing by 148% year-on-year.
In the video-centric AR smart glasses category, there was an impressive rise of over 80% in the latter half of 2025. Meanwhile, waveguide-based AR glasses experienced a staggering growth of over 600% year-on-year. This segment made significant gains, capturing 38% of total shipments in H2 2025, a jump from just 13% the previous year.
This boom in waveguide-based devices is largely attributed to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI). Features like real-time translation, navigation, and image recognition are becoming more common, enhancing the user experience. Around 70% of the waveguide-based shipments in the latter half of 2025 included AI capabilities, a significant rise from almost no presence a year earlier, with China and the US emerging as vital markets.
Counterpoint forecasts continual growth in the AR smart glasses market for the coming years, thanks to increased international efforts from leading manufacturers, new entries into the market, and advancements in production technologies for essential components.
However, the report also highlights potential challenges, including recent memory price hikes and geopolitical tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which could affect the global economy.
Earlier in March, another study noted that the industry had grown by 139% year-on-year in the latter half of 2025. In India, shipments skyrocketed 15 times during this period, mainly after Meta launched its products in May 2025, although the country still represented only 2% of the global market share.
