Google moved into the AI glasses market with new Android XR smart glasses co-developed with Samsung Electronics and partnerships with eyewear brands, and the entry is expected to lift global AI glasses shipments to 17.5 million units in 2026, according to DIGITIMES analyst Brandon Fang. The product roadmap under Google's plan divides offerings into voice-based AI glasses and display-type glasses, with the voice model slated for the third quarter of 2026 and the display version expected in the second half of 2026.
The new Google devices will feature a lightweight design and deep integration with Gemini AI, and the company said it was collaborating with eyewear brands including Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to co-develop hardware. The market expects initial Google volumes to exceed 2 million units, drawing a parallel to the Meta-Ray-Ban model and signaling a potential mainstream shift for AI glasses as a mobile wearable option.
According to Fang, global shipments of AI glasses nearly reached 8.6 million units in 2025 and could double in 2026 as major vendors and Chinese brands push the category. The firm also reported expectations that Apple would enter the segment in 2027 and that Google would continue working with Kering, with Gucci responsible for exterior design, which the research house said could push annual shipments above 26 million units in subsequent years.
The research note warned that the arrival of new brands and improved AI glasses functionality will reshape market share. Meta was projected to remain the top seller in 2026 with about 76% market share, though DIGITIMES Research expected its share to decline as competition increases and new applications emerge for the form factor.
Article edited by Jingyue Hsiao
