China's Dongguan ships nearly half of global AI glasses

Dongguan-based companies shipped more than 4 million pairs of AI glasses in 2025, accounting for nearly half of the global total of 8.7 million pairs, according to research firm Omdia.

The Guangdong city ranked first worldwide by shipment volume, while global AI glasses shipments rose 322% from a year earlier.

Dongguan recently introduced measures to support XR intelligent terminals in areas including technology, company development, applications, and funding.

The city relies on its electronics supply chain to serve contract manufacturers and local brands, said Zeng Jianpeng, executive vice-mayor.

🔗 Source: China Daily

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Small, agile manufacturers are helping power Dongguan’s AI glasses boom

Dongguan draws strength from a wider group of six to eight small and medium-sized manufacturers in China’s Pearl River Delta that can develop AI eyewear 1.
Many of these companies sell low-cost products under their own brands. They also take contract work and serve original design manufacturing (ODM) clients, which design and make products for other brands, across business and consumer markets to grow volume and ease money strain 1.
Lower research and development costs support the model. One company said it can build new AI glasses for less than 10 million yuan (US$1.41 million) and refresh designs every six months 1.
More capable domestic chips also widen the field, giving AI eyewear brands and manufacturers cheaper options with stronger value 1.

Low-priced models are expanding the AI eyewear category

Cheaper devices are helping the category reach more buyers. One example is an AI translation eyewear device priced at 119 yuan (US$16). It sold well during the Double 11 shopping festival, China’s annual online shopping event, on Douyin Mall, ByteDance’s ecommerce platform 1.
Some AI eyewear models have shipped more than 20,000 units a month 1.
The fast low-cost approach puts pressure on the research and development style common in Western tech. International hardware companies may need to work with these Chinese manufacturers or risk falling behind in future device categories 1.