Chinese start-ups challenging Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses with affordable alternatives
Chinese technology companies are making significant strides in the smart glasses market, following the success of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses. The latest versions of Meta's glasses, enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and priced at $300, have outperformed their predecessors' two-year sales within a few months. This surge in consumer interest is driving Chinese firms to develop innovative and cost-effective alternatives.
Superhexa introduces affordable AI audio glasses
Superhexa, a start-up backed by Xiaomi, has entered the competitive market with its AI audio glasses named Jiehuan. Priced at an affordable CNY 699 (approximately ₹8,200), these glasses aim to provide similar functionality as their pricier counterparts. They offer quick access to large language models (LLMs) through built-in speakers and microphones, enabling real-time interaction with AI.
Jiehuan glasses: A look at the features
The Jiehuan glasses from Superhexa offer advanced features such as 11 hours of music playback, up to two weeks of standby time, and a lightweight design weighing just 30gm. They also include voice-guided navigation, AI chat, and audio translation capabilities. However, early users have reported some limitations with these glasses including difficulties in voice recognition in noisy environments.
AI smart glasses market: A look at the future
Sinolink Securities predicts that shipments of smart eyewear could reach two million units by year-end, a significant increase from last year's 480,000 augmented reality (AR) glasses. This trend indicates a growing consumer interest in such products. However, Ivan Lam from Counterpoint warns that current AI glasses may not appeal to non-glasses wearers and the added weight from electronic components could hinder widespread adoption.
