Omdia: Global AI Glasses Shipments More Than Doubled in 1H26, Hitting a Record 4.2 Million

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 23, 2026--

According to the latest Omdia data, global AI glasses shipments reached 4.2 million units in 1H26, up 127% year-on-year (YoY). AI glasses remain an emerging category, with growth stabilizing as the market expands from a very low base. Meanwhile, the sector is facing a more complex environment, driven by intensifying competition across different frame designs and mounting scrutiny over user privacy.

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“Growth in the AI glasses market in 1H26 was driven by Meta’s continued market momentum and a wave of new market entrants from China,” said Qiran Ju, Senior Analyst at Omdia. “Just as critically, vendors have made the value proposition immediately clear to buyers by focusing on hands-free photo and video capture, open-ear audio, and AI assistance within everyday frames”.

Meta retained its dominant position in 1H26, shipping 3.4 million AI glasses to capture an 81.3% market share. However, smaller competitors are also contributing to the overall market growth by exploring alternative frame designs and targeted use cases. Even Realities demonstrated this trend, climbing from fifth place in 2H25 to second in 1H26 with 102,000 units shipped (a 2.4% share), driven by demand for its G2 series across North America and Western Europe.

Ju added: “Even Realities takes a different frame design from most AI glasses. By removing both the camera and speakers, and focusing instead on a slimmer design, a small monochrome display and productivity features such as real-time transcription, it shows how vendors are exploring different ways to make AI glasses useful in everyday life.”

While the US remains by far the largest AI glasses market, Mainland China is playing a pivotal role as both a primary supply chain hub and a testbed for new hardware configurations. Shipments in China surged 306% YoY in 1H26, as local vendors experimented with varied display, camera, and audio setups. However, the market remains highly fragmented – top players Alibaba, INMO, and Xiaomi collectively accounted for just 46.1% of shipments.

“What we are seeing in China provides early but definitive signs that there is no single, one-size-fits-all solution in the AI glasses space,” said Jason Low, Research Director at Omdia. “As the category continues to diversify across different form factors and feature sets, this will inevitably become the defining trend for the global market.”

Low added: “Privacy, alongside varied user preferences, is a major driver of this fragmentation. As scrutiny of camera-equipped AI glasses intensifies, tighter privacy settings and clearer messaging will not be enough. Companies must define exactly what always-on cameras capture, show users how that content is used, and guarantee it never reaches third parties."

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Mainland China’s fragmented AI glasses market contrasts with global concentration

Global AI glasses shipments by market, 2H23 to 1H26

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys have placed rookie edge rusher Malachi Lawrence on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain and activated linebacker Marist Liufau, who has been sidelined all season with a forearm fracture.

The move Saturday means Lawrence will miss at least four games beginning Sunday at Indianapolis. The first-round pick could return, although the Cowboys are running low on spots remaining for players to return from IR.

Liufau was injured in the final preseason game, which might have helped save his spot on the roster. Instead of being forced to include the third-year player on the 53-man roster for final cuts, Dallas had the option of putting him on injured reserve.

Lawrence had his only sack in a 24-16 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 5. He was injured in last week's 33-30 overtime loss to Arizona.

Liufau started his career as a linebacker out of Notre Dame, but the Cowboys have considered turning him into an edge rusher. He is listed as an outside linebacker along with Lawrence and the rest of the edge rushers.

The Cowboys (3-5) promoted receiver Jordan Hudson and tight end James Mitchell from the practice squad for the game against the Colts (2-6).

Defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard, who injured a calf in Week 3, will remain on IR at least one more week.

Tight end Luke Schoonmaker is questionable with a groin injury, but the promotion of Mitchell likely means Schoonmaker will miss a second consecutive game.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, left, is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, center, and Cowboys linebacker Malachi Lawrence (57) during an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)