Smart glasses, which dominated the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, saw a notable decline in visibility at CES 2026, suggesting a potential shift in market dynamics or industry focus. As the wearable technology sector evolves, questions arise about whether the demand for smart glasses is cooling or entering a new phase of development.
Enovix, known for its next-generation 3D silicon lithium batteries designed for wearables, has recently shifted some of its attention to smartphone battery applications. Raj Talluri, CEO of Enovix and a former senior executive at Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, and Micron Technology, discussed the future outlook of smart wearables, particularly smart glasses, in an interview with DIGITIMES. Talluri indicated that Enovix targets markets with the highest value potential, emphasizing that, despite their small size, smart glasses have a higher power requirement than other wearable devices.
Smart glasses continue to face technical challenges, such as overheating during prolonged use, despite simplified features. Talluri explained that Enovix's batteries, which feature metal casings, provide rapid heat dissipation, helping to address this issue. While processors in smart glasses are becoming more power-efficient, thereby reducing heat generation, the displays remain significant energy consumers. As a result, smart glasses equipped with displays require considerably greater battery capacity than those without.
Advances in AI and the changing landscape of wearable applications
Talluri highlighted the most significant change between CES 2025 and 2026 as the advancement of on-device artificial intelligence (AI). He noted that companies no longer need to develop extensive large language models themselves, as they can now connect to existing AI solutions such as Google's Gemini or phone-based AI. This technological development has made complex functionalities previously considered challenging easier to implement. For example, multilingual translation capabilities in smart glasses, which were previously difficult to envision, now operate smoothly by leveraging current AI resources.
Regarding pricing strategies, Talluri pointed out that while price remains a factor, it is not the sole determinant of consumer interest. He compared smart glasses to fashion accessories, suggesting that, unlike smartphones, which most people own only one of, consumers might purchase multiple pairs, priced from as low as US$0.50 to premium models around US$900. This variability reinforces the ongoing business potential for smart glasses, given their dual role as both functional and fashion items.
In concluding remarks, Talluri expressed optimism about the long-term trajectory of smart glasses, likening their future to that of smartphones or smart TVs. He predicted that soon it will become rare to find non-smart glasses, as the definition of "smart" continues to expand with new features and capabilities. "This is just the beginning," he stated, indicating that smart glasses are poised for continued innovation and market growth despite the changing trends observed at recent industry events.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
