The Smart Glasses Market is Booming: Image Chips Take Center Stage

Explosive Growth: 210% Yearly Surge in Smart Glasses Shipments

The global smart glasses market is witnessing unprecedented growth. According to a report by market research firm Counterpoint, worldwide shipments of smart glasses surpassed 2 million units for the first time in 2024, marking a staggering 210% year-over-year increase—a historic high. As AI technology becomes more deeply integrated, smart glasses are evolving rapidly, creating new demands for the semiconductor industry. Among the critical advancements, image chip upgrades have emerged as a focal point, with companies like StarFive Technology and Fullhan Microelectronics introducing next-generation SoC chips to enhance performance.

Annual Shipments Surpass 2 Million Units, Driving Market Expansion

Smart glasses, broadly defined, include any eyewear with integrated smart functionalities. More specifically, the term often refers to AI-powered smart glasses and audio smart glasses that lack AR capabilities. Counterpoint’s report categorizes smart glasses as those without transparent displays or optical systems (i.e., non-AR smart glasses).

Key features of AI-powered smart glasses include:

• Integrated AI Processors: The core of AI smart glasses is an AI-capable processing unit such as a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) or Data Processing Unit (DPU), enabling local AI tasks such as voice assistants and data preprocessing.

• Voice Interaction: High-quality speakers and microphones ensure seamless communication, allowing users to control devices and access information hands-free.

• Visual AI Assistance: Cameras enable smart glasses to process visual input for AI-driven applications like image recognition and contextual understanding.

• Fast and Stable Wireless Connectivity: Reliable network connections are crucial for smooth voice interactions and data transmission, ensuring an optimal user experience.

Market Leaders and Emerging Trends

In 2024, most newly launched AI smart glasses integrated AI processors and voice interaction capabilities. Leading brands such as Liweike’s Meta Lens Chat AI Glasses and Hive Technology’s Jiehuan AI Audio Glasses exemplify these advancements. Additionally, from mid-2024 onwards, numerous domestic brands have begun introducing smart glasses equipped with cameras, such as the FlashExtreme A1.

Meta has emerged as the dominant player in this rapidly expanding market. The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses alone account for nearly 60% of total shipments, significantly contributing to the overall market surge. Counterpoint’s Global Smart Glasses Model Shipment Tracker reports a 210% year-over-year increase in shipments, solidifying smart glasses’ transition from conceptual gadgets to practical consumer tools.

Image Chips as the 2025 Game Changer: StarFive Technology and Fullhan Microelectronics Unveil New SoCs

As technology advances, smart glasses continue to evolve beyond mere hardware improvements like connectivity, audio quality, and battery life. While early iterations focused on mitigating common issues such as sound leakage and inaccurate voice capture, recent models prioritize deeper AI integration and enhanced functionalities.

Looking ahead to 2025, camera-equipped smart glasses are set to define the next generation of wearable technology. The demand for high-performance processors and expanded memory capacity is rising, as these devices require superior multimodal interaction capabilities and high-definition image processing. Moreover, manufacturers must balance power efficiency and lightweight design to maintain user comfort—posing new challenges for the semiconductor industry.

New SoC Solutions for Smart Glasses

Recognizing these evolving demands, semiconductor companies have begun developing specialized SoC chips for AI-powered smart glasses:

• StarFive Technology: In 2024, the company introduced the SSC309QL imaging processor, boasting 1.5 TOPS computing power, compact dimensions, and low power consumption. Leveraging chiplet technology, it integrates an LPDDR4x memory module, reducing overall chip size by 24% compared to AR1-based designs. The proprietary ISP4.0 image processing engine enhances imaging performance while consuming only 300mW during 2MP video recording, cutting total device power usage to 600mW—50% lower than the AR1 model.

• Fullhan Microelectronics: At CES 2025, the company unveiled the MC6350 smart glasses SoC, featuring a 12nm low-power architecture that significantly reduces video capture power consumption to just 25% of leading market competitors. With an ultra-compact 8x8mm design, integrated 256MB DDR memory, and advanced AI-ISP technology, the MC6350 enhances image quality—particularly in low-light conditions, where traditional smart glasses often struggle.

Conclusion: The Future of Smart Glasses and the Semiconductor Industry

The global smart glasses market reached a turning point in 2024, ushering in a new era of semiconductor-driven innovation. With camera-equipped smart glasses expected to become mainstream in 2025, the industry is witnessing a paradigm shift toward AI-enhanced spatial computing. As this transformative trend unfolds, we will continue to track key technological developments that shape the next generation of smart eyewear.