According to the Zhitong Finance APP, smart glasses are set to become a focal point in 2025. According to data from Counterpoint Research, the collaborative product between Meta (META.US) and eyewear manufacturer EssilorLuxottica has become a best-seller in most Ray-Ban stores across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with total sales exceeding 1 million units. This early success has also encouraged competitors to develop their own smart glasses.
Ray-Ban glasses integrate microphones, speakers, cameras, and artificial intelligence assistants into a familiar frame, with each priced at around $300. Unlike bulky virtual reality or augmented reality headsets that have failed to win over the masses, Meta's device actually looks like regular glasses, weighs less than 50 grams, and offers practical everyday features such as real-time translation, hands-free photo and video capture, based on its built-in memory and processing capabilities. These smart glasses can also seamlessly connect to smartphones, similar to wireless earbuds. This is all thanks to the latest artificial intelligence chipsets, software, and batteries. Additionally, Meta's Ray-Bans claim a battery life of four hours, while competitor Snap's battery life is less than one hour.
<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://img.zhitongcaijing.com/image/20241230/1735559250800314.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="智能 1.png" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://img.zhitongcaijing.com/image/20241230/1735559250800314.png"/>
Other tech giants are also paying attention to this field. In November, Baidu launched a pair of glasses powered by the artificial intelligence robot Ernie. A few days later, foreign media reported that Amazon (AMZN.US) is developing smart glasses for delivery personnel. Suppliers are ramping up production capacity: professional lens manufacturer Vuzix estimates that by 2028, the company's annual production capacity will increase from about 1 million units in 2024 to 50 million units. According to media reports, Apple (AAPL.US), Samsung Electronics, Xiaomi, and Alphabet (GOOGL.US) are all developing new products.
However, profitability may still be a distant goal. The trendy Ray-Ban glasses have not disclosed financial details. Based on available information, they are part of Meta's Reality Labs division, which also includes the augmented reality glasses prototype Orion. According to Visible Alpha's forecast, the division's revenue in 2024 is expected to exceed $2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 16%.
However, according to Visible Alpha's estimates, although Reality Labs will be the fastest-growing division in the coming years, the division is expected to incur an operating loss of $60 billion over the next three years. According to The Information, the parent company Meta has requested the division to cut nearly 20% of its spending from now until 2026.
<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://img.zhitongcaijing.com/image/20241230/1735559256689463.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="智能 2.png" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://img.zhitongcaijing.com/image/20241230/1735559256689463.png"/>
The dawn of hope has already appeared. Analysts at Counterpoint estimate that the cost for Meta and EssilorLuxottica to manufacture a pair of smart Ray-Ban glasses is nearly $135, which implies a gross margin of 45%. According to analysts at Itaú BBA, this ratio is higher than the approximately 30% gross margin of Apple's smartwatches and close to the 50% gross margin of AirPods. Reducing the costs of processor chips and batteries without compromising functionality and features will be a challenge, but not impossible.
By 2025, this commitment will attract more companies and investors trying to emulate Mark Zuckerberg's case. However, it must also be said that finding a ready-made winner for other participants to emulate will be difficult

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Smart glasses are expected to become a market focus in 2025. The Ray-Ban smart glasses, developed in collaboration between Meta and EssilorLuxottica, have sold over 1 million units in multiple regions. This product integrates a microphone, speakers, camera, and AI assistant, priced at around $300, lightweight and practical. Other tech giants such as Baidu, Amazon, and Apple are also developing related products, and market competition is expected to intensify in the future

- Smart glasses are expected to gain prominence by 2025, with Meta's collaboration with EssilorLuxottica leading to over 1 million sales of Ray-Ban smart glasses.  
- These glasses integrate various features like microphones and cameras into a lightweight design, offering practical functions such as real-time translation and hands-free video capture.  
- Despite the initial success, profitability remains uncertain, with Reality Labs projected to incur significant losses while competitors like Apple and Amazon are also developing similar products.

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Smart glasses will become the new focus next year, with the "FOMO" effect driving tech giants to rush into the new battlefield