Chinese AI wearables, especially smartglasses from Inmo and Rokid, are gaining traction worldwide following Meta's headset launch, with early export figures signaling strong momentum. The sector's growth underscores China's expanding role in advanced consumer tech innovation.
- Inmo shipped 1.2 million smartglasses units globally in Q3 2025, with 68% sold outside China.
- Rokid shipped 950,000 units in Q3 2025, up 210% YoY.
- Chinese smartglasses now hold 27% of the international market, up from 9% in 2023.
- TSMC’s 5nm and 3nm chips are powering key AI features in Inmo and Rokid devices.
- PDD and Alibaba reported 34% and 29% YoY growth in smartglasses sales, respectively.
- Over 40 countries now have access to Chinese-made AI wearables via direct and e-commerce channels.
China’s AI-powered wearable market is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by aggressive innovation and global demand for smartglasses. Companies such as Inmo and Rokid have successfully launched products in over 40 international markets within 18 months of Meta’s headset release, capitalizing on the post-launch momentum in augmented reality (AR) devices. Inmo reported 1.2 million units shipped globally in Q3 2025, with 68% of sales outside China, primarily in Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America. Rokid posted similar growth, shipping 950,000 units in the same period, a 210% year-over-year increase. These figures reflect a shift in global AR device supply chains, with Chinese manufacturers capturing an estimated 27% of the international smartglasses market, up from 9% in 2023. The surge is underpinned by advancements in on-device AI processing, with both companies leveraging chipsets from TSMC, including 5nm and 3nm nodes, to power real-time language translation and gesture recognition in their devices. This reliance on advanced semiconductors highlights the growing interdependence between China’s consumer tech exporters and global foundry leaders. The momentum benefits not only hardware makers but also Chinese e-commerce platforms and tech conglomerates. PDD reported a 34% increase in smartglasses sales via its Temu platform in Q3, while Alibaba (BABA) saw a 29% rise in AI wearable transactions across its international marketplaces, signaling strong distribution pipelines and consumer adoption.