Updated
Updated · Informa PLC · Jun 30
Near-Eye Display Revenue to Hit $675 Million in 2026 as AR Glasses Shipments Jump 154%
Updated
Updated · Informa PLC · Jun 30

Near-Eye Display Revenue to Hit $675 Million in 2026 as AR Glasses Shipments Jump 154%

2 articles · Updated · Informa PLC · Jun 30

Summary

  • $675 million in revenue and 14.53 million shipments are forecast for the near-eye display market in 2026, up 12% and 16% respectively after a sharp 2025 contraction.
  • AR glasses are expected to drive that rebound, with display shipments surging 154% year over year to 4.1 million units and revenue rising 152% to $156 million on new launches and heavier investment.
  • VR remains the drag: display shipments are projected to fall 4% to 10.5 million units and revenue to slip 4% to $518.7 million as bulky hardware, power demands and weak content limit mass-market appeal.
  • Meta, Apple, Samsung and Huawei have already adjusted roadmaps toward lightweight AI smart glasses and AR devices, signaling a broader industry shift away from aggressive VR expansion.

Insights

With Meta, Apple, and Google all launching smart glasses, which AI will win the battle for our eyes?
As big tech pivots to AR, is the dream of an immersive VR metaverse officially dead or just on hold?
Will AI glasses solve real problems, or will privacy concerns prevent them from replacing our smartphones?