• 1.Industry Macro & Market Data
• 2.Smart Glasses: Meta Connect Preview & Dense New Product Launches
• 3.Trade Show & Brand Campaigns
• 4.Regulatory Watch: Product Quality Inspections and Fitting Service Standards Advance in Parallel
• 5.Factory Direct · In-Stock Wholesale

1.Industry Macro & Market Data

Smart glasses market growing rapidly but growth rate gradually stabilizing: According to latest Omdia data, global AI glasses shipments more than doubled year-on-year in H1 2026, with Meta maintaining its absolute leading position while a large influx of Chinese manufacturers drove market expansion. Notably, competition among different frame designs is intensifying, and user privacy concerns are attracting more attention, making the market environment increasingly complex. Counterpoint Research data shows that screen-free AI glasses maintain a high shipment share, while AR AI glasses, though smaller in base, show outstanding growth, with China surpassing the US to become the largest market for this sub-segment. Analysts note that rising prices of memory and other semiconductor components, as well as public concerns over AI glasses privacy, will bring uncertainty to the industry’s further development.

China market shows significant structural divergence, AR products grow against the trend: According to an IDC report, in Q2 2026 China’s smart glasses market saw audio and audio-camera glasses shipments decline notably year-on-year, while AR/VR market shipments achieved high-speed growth, with AR glasses growth particularly prominent, driven mainly by lightweight products equipped with AI functions. Meanwhile, AI glasses shipments in mainland China surged year-on-year, with domestic manufacturers exploring diverse display, camera, and audio solutions, though the market remains highly fragmented. Omdia’s research director noted that there is no single solution in the AI glasses market that can meet all user needs, and differentiated development will gradually become a major feature of the global market.

Eyewear retail market accelerating reshuffle: According to industry statistics, from 2023 to H1 2026, more than 60,000 eyewear stores across the country were deregistered or revoked, with an average of over 50 stores exiting the market daily, while the industry’s retail market size actually increased. This phenomenon of “fewer stores, higher volume” reflects that traditional eyewear retail channels are undergoing structural adjustment, with online capabilities and professional service capabilities becoming key to store survival.

2.Smart Glasses: Meta Connect Preview & Dense New Product Launches

The smart glasses space saw a dense wave of new product and technology developments this week, with significant moves across the supply chain.

Meta Connect 2026 opens this week, camera-free AI glasses become the biggest highlight: Meta’s annual Connect conference is held from September 23 to 24 local time. Unlike previous years, one of the core highlights this year is a camera-free AI glasses — reportedly available in two styles, with an additional microphone array to enhance voice interaction with the Meta AI assistant, and a slimmer frame that looks closer to regular glasses. This strategic adjustment is interpreted by the industry as Meta’s proactive response to privacy controversies: after sustained public pressure over “spy glasses,” it lowers the user threshold by launching a camera-free version while retaining the core experience of AI voice interaction. In addition, a lightweight mixed reality headset codenamed “Phoenix” may also appear at the conference, alongside a Codec Avatars holographic call technology demonstration.

Snap’s consumer AR glasses Specs officially launched: Snap’s first standalone AR glasses for ordinary consumers, Specs, officially launched this week, with the Wi-Fi version priced at $2,195, and a cellular version launched in partnership with Verizon. The product runs independently without an external computing unit, is powered by two Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, and features electrochromic lenses that can switch from clear to sunglasses mode in 10 seconds. The launch of Specs marks the first time AR glasses have entered the consumer market as a “fully standalone device.”

Rokid and Hongxing Glasses open Shanghai’s first AI glasses fitting-integrated store: On September 21, the AI glasses fitting-integrated store jointly created by Rokid and Shanghai time-honored brand Hongxing Glasses officially opened on Huaihai Road. The store integrates the functional experience of AI glasses with the traditional full process of optometry, fitting, and pickup in one space, eliminating the need for users to travel between tech experience stores and eyewear stores. This model has important reference significance for traditional eyewear retail channels — when smart glasses require prescription lens adaptation, offline fitting capability will become a key barrier for brand competition.

Crystal Optoelectronics signs AR waveguide manufacturing agreement with Lumus: Crystal Optoelectronics announced a new manufacturing agreement with Lumus, a pioneer in AR reflective waveguide technology, making Crystal Optoelectronics the third authorized manufacturer of Lumus reflective waveguides after Quanta Computer and SCHOTT. Crystal Optoelectronics has extensive experience in large-scale manufacturing of precision optical components for leading global technology companies, having shipped over 30 billion optical components to date. As customer projects move toward commercialization and higher volumes, this expanded supply chain network provides Lumus with additional capacity assurance and geographic diversification.

3.Trade Show & Brand Campaigns

Silmo Paris eyewear trade show opens this week, AI and smart glasses become core themes: Silmo 2026 is held from September 25 to 28 at Paris Nord Villepinte, gathering about 900 exhibitors and over 1,500 brands, and expected to attract about 34,000 professional visitors from 150 countries. This year’s fair takes smart glasses and AI technology as its core themes. The Silmo Next future platform features a Tech Village area highlighting artificial intelligence, connected glasses, and digital services. Under the “AI x SmartGlasses” theme, multiple brands will showcase applications such as translation dialogue, environmental awareness, and in-field information display. The fair also features demonstrations of AI applications in optometry and vision testing, with companies like Acep and SiView presenting AI-assisted measurement, automated workflows, and personalized results. In addition, the fair has arranged more than 60 themed forums covering smart glasses, eye imaging and AI predictive health care, retail environment transformation, and future optometrist training.

ZEISS Optical Town officially breaks ground, Guangzhou AI Glasses Industrial Park launched: On September 10, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Guangzhou AI Glasses Industrial Park and ZEISS Optical Town was held in Huangpu District’s Knowledge City. The Guangzhou AI Glasses Industrial Park covers approximately 2.1 square kilometers. ZEISS Optical Town, unveiled in April this year, officially launched Phase I construction. Global optics giants are viewing smart glasses as a strategic growth pole parallel to traditional optical business, and industrial clustering effects are accelerating.

4.Regulatory Watch: Product Quality Inspections and Fitting Service Standards Advance in Parallel

Back-to-school product quality inspection results released, children’s eyewear in focus: This week coincides with the back-to-school peak for eyewear fitting. The Nanjing Municipal Market Supervision Bureau released the results of a product quality supervision inspection of children’s prescription eyewear, with 1 out of 30 batches failing, the non-compliant item being vertex power deviation — a large deviation is equivalent to increasing or decreasing the patient’s refractive power, keeping the eyes in a long-term under-corrected or over-corrected state, which can easily cause visual fatigue. Quality inspectors remind consumers to verify the store’s business license, confirm that optometrists are certified, and check whether lens and frame packaging has complete information such as certificates of conformity, manufacturer name, and address when choosing an eyewear fitting store.

Optometry and eyewear fitting service quality issues draw industry attention: This week, China Education Daily published a commentary deeply analyzing service quality issues in the optometry and eyewear fitting industry. The article pointed out that some eyewear stores complete the entire optometry process in less than 3 minutes, some stores conclude that “the prescription hasn’t increased” based solely on old lens power and eye chart tests, and some sales staff without optometry qualifications directly perform optometry for adolescents. A survey by the Shanxi Consumers Association showed that over 70% of consumers did not see optometrist qualification certificates and annual inspection certificates for optometry equipment in prominent locations at service institutions, with opaque pricing, hidden charges, and irregular product sources being the issues consumers worry about most.

Local service standards and special inspections advance in parallel: On the industry self-discipline front, Hebei Province’s local standard “Specification for Eyewear Optometry and Fitting Service Quality” was officially released this month, putting forward systematic requirements in areas such as service capability assurance, service delivery process, service result requirements, and optometry-medical collaborative services; Jiangsu Province’s “Eyewear Fitting Service Specification” has also completed revision. Meanwhile, market supervision departments in Beijing, Nanjing, Quzhou, and other places carried out back-to-school special inspections focusing on eyewear stores around campuses, focusing on verification certificates for mandatory inspection equipment such as optometers and lensmeters, and conducting comprehensive screening for unlicensed operation of third-class medical devices such as contact lenses and care solutions.

5.Factory Direct · In-Stock Wholesale

Deep-Rooted in the Industry, Integrated Manufacturing & Trading

We are a factory-based eyewear manufacturer and exporter specializing in clip-ons, flip-ups, and optical frames, supplying Southeast Asian wholesalers directly. With full in-house control — from tooling and mold development, injection molding, metal stamping, and surface finishing to final assembly — we ensure consistent quality and reliable delivery.

Three Core Product Lines — Meeting Diverse Wholesale Needs

Clip-on: We offer a full range of polarized and photochromic clip-ons, compatible with various optical frame sizes, suitable for driving, outdoor activities, and office use. Given the intense sunlight in Southeast Asian markets, polarized clip-ons maintain consistently high reorder rates, making them one of the steadiest volume-driving categories for wholesale clients. As the smart glasses market expands, the compatibility of clip-on accessories with smart eyewear is also worth watching.

Flip-up: Our flip-up lineup is anchored by reading glasses, while also supporting plano (non-prescription) and multifunctional custom options. The flip mechanism has undergone tens of thousands of open-close durability tests for smooth, reliable operation. This season we are featuring a lightweight TR-90 series, significantly enhancing all-day wearing comfort — particularly well-suited for middle-aged and senior consumers.

Optical frames: Our collection covers full-rim, semi-rimless, and rimless styles, available in materials including metal and TR-90, among others. We stay current with international design trends, incorporating vintage, minimalist, and geometric elements into our frame silhouettes — balancing aesthetics with functionality to meet end-consumer demand for “fashion + vision correction.”

Zero-Minimum, Mixed-Batch Flexibility

We understand the need for small trial orders and fast turnover — we keep ample stock year-round across our three core categories, covering the most popular styles and prescription ranges, with no MOQ and full support for mixed-batch ordering across categories, so you can start easily and minimize inventory risk. Custom logo printing on frames or packaging (screen printing, laser engraving, and other techniques available) is also offered to help you build your own brand and establish differentiated competitiveness in regional markets.

Transparent Factory Verification

Our own production floor and showroom are open for live video tours, production line walk-throughs, and product testing clips — including frame fatigue tests, lens impact tests, hinge durability tests, and more. You can verify our capabilities and quality control without travelling, making cooperation simple and trustworthy. Our products meet export quality standards and have been consistently supplied to multiple Southeast Asian markets, earning strong trust from wholesale clients.

This Week’s Feature — Flip-Up Reading Glasses

Continuing our weekly featured item, we present our seasonal bestseller — flip-up reading glasses. Precision-ground optics deliver clear, fatigue-free vision; the smooth and durable flip mechanism allows easy switching between near and far focus. Available in four classic frame colours — Black, Gunmetal, Gold, and Silver — lightweight and comfortable, these glasses directly address the daily needs of middle-aged and senior consumers, making them a steady high-volume category for the Southeast Asian retail market. This batch provides complete prescription coverage from +1.0D to +4.0D, accommodating the diverse needs of different customer segments.