Industry Weatherman
Recently, at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, it was discovered that the overall cost of AI glasses capable of taking photos is only around 200 yuan. This has caused a stir in the previously inflated market of pseudo-AI smart glasses, which were priced at over a thousand or two thousand yuan, especially those that merely had TWS Bluetooth glasses legs! The “AI Glasses Price Slayer” behind this industry is Allwinner Technology, which provides comprehensive solutions.
According to Allwinner Technology’s official WeChat account, the combination of instant capture/stabilization technology with glasses has brought a brand new first-person perspective imaging recording experience; the integration of cloud AI large models has enabled audio and visual interactive fusion; and the miniaturized, low-power design continuously optimizes the wearing experience. The high-definition, smart, lightweight, and fashionable AI glasses provide users with more product imagination and also raise higher requirements for chip solutions. The mass production of Allwinner’s new generation V821 smart vision chip is timely.
The Allwinner V821 chip boasts excellent high-definition image and video processing capabilities, meeting the demands for low power consumption and miniaturized design in AI glasses, and provides customized software solution packages for AI glasses, assisting partners in achieving rapid product deployment. Currently, AI glasses based on the Allwinner V821 “Smart Eye” solution have completed their customer debut, showcasing at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair on April 18 and officially starting sales.
It is understood that the V821 was initially defined as a universal IPC security product aimed at 3M resolution, but its versatile explosive power has led to its transformation into the “AI Glasses Price Slayer”!
Allwinner’s accompanying images also show that the high-cost performance main control chip V821 + Bluetooth chip + SD NAND is a universal solution.
With the high integration and miniaturization characteristics of the Allwinner V821 chip, it can flexibly adapt to various Bluetooth headset solutions and seamlessly expand display functions; during high-definition image/video transmission, the V821’s high-speed bus can directly send HD video and images to mobile phones via built-in Wi-Fi, further saving power to extend battery life; the V821 has built-in low-power memory, allowing for more cost-effective storage options like SD NAND, in addition to traditional solutions, further reducing overall costs.
Allwinner V821 “Smart Eye” AI Glasses Solution
Based on the performance advantages and specifications of the V821 chip, Allwinner Technology has integrated years of accumulated image processing technology from action cameras into a product package that meets the architecture of AI glasses, including chip layer, solution layer, and resource layer, facilitating the rapid expansion and deployment of visual wearable products, including AI glasses.
The AI glasses solution can enter photo mode in as fast as 300ms and recording mode in 600ms, meeting the rapid capture needs of AI glasses. It can support typical 5MP to 8MP image sensors and 1080P to 2K video recording under 64MB memory, and supports gyroscope low-latency packaging alignment of video frames for easy fusion processing on the mobile side. In typical 1080P 30fps video shooting scenarios, the chip’s average power consumption is only 283 to 295mW. Additionally, the V821 has been specifically optimized in conjunction with professional-grade ISP for the characteristics of small image sensors and small apertures commonly used in glasses.
For the typical hardware requirements of AI glasses, Allwinner provides a complete V821 hardware verification reference design and prototype development evaluation board, with reserved interfaces for freely combining backend Bluetooth chips for rapid prototype development and debugging in the early stages.
For nine typical business scenarios such as photo taking, video recording, file saving, file transmission, and AI image recognition, typical scene firmware can be compiled with one click for rapid debugging with Bluetooth chips. Complete Linux application source code will also be provided for secondary development, allowing for the expansion of various differentiated visual wearable products.
To meet the efficient debugging needs between SoC and Bluetooth chips, a complete communication protocol has been implemented based on UART/I2S and other interfaces, and RTOS source code is provided to facilitate customer porting on the Bluetooth chip side, balancing real-time high performance with flexible expansion.
For commonly used materials in AI glasses products, such as cameras and storage, adaptations have been completed, including: Goke Micro 5MP image sensor, Sony 8MP image sensor, and storage devices from Hengshuo and Xintianxia. More models are continuously being adapted based on demand.
Allwinner not only provides a processing library for basic smartphone stabilization algorithms but can also assist in connecting third-party stabilization algorithm libraries, facilitating partners to quickly integrate stabilization effects based on existing smartphone apps. More image and video processing enhancement features will be upgraded in the future.
Meanwhile, the new generation V881 series chip, supporting 12MP to 20MP photography and 4K video recording, will debut in the second half of 2025; the V881 chip solution can seamlessly upgrade on the V821 wearable solution, further assisting partners in continuously enhancing product experience and providing richer and more complete solution choices for the AI smart glasses market.
Finally, regardless of its photo-taking effects, compared to the so-called AI Bluetooth glasses legs that can only make sounds and cost several thousand more, at least Allwinner’s technology solution allows you to have a true AI glasses, from visual recognition to AI application integration, and even extending to fully functional AI (AR) smart glasses, all of which can meet your needs. If terminal manufacturers have strong AI algorithm capabilities to optimize audio and video later, Allwinner’s solution is almost perfect: low price, photo-taking and recognition, Bluetooth wireless transmission protocol, AI model compatibility, fully addressing the pain points of AI smart glasses.
Allwinner Technology is a platform-based main control chip manufacturer with strong technical strength in China, with most of its product lines overlapping with those of Rockchip and MediaTek, yet possessing its unique characteristics. As a domestic leader in wireless audio SoCs, it has laid out a wide range of products including large-scale mixed-signal SoCs, smart power management chips, wireless interconnection chips, and voice signal chips. Apart from strategically retreating from the smartphone sector where it lacks competitiveness, it has been a major supplier in various fields from smart tablets, IPC security, AIOT IoT terminals, smart wearables, robotic vacuum cleaners, to smart set-top boxes.
In recent years, it has also leveraged its edge AI core algorithms and RISC-V chip IP advantages to enter multiple fields such as automotive electronics and industrial automation, providing integrated solutions from instruction sets to IP, chips, and products. By integrating CPU, GPU, NPU, DSP, and other processing cores of different architectures, Allwinner can adapt to different functional requirements while enhancing overall computing power, combined with the basic functions brought by the software system to build an efficient computing system of “division of labor and cooperation” to support more diverse applications.
The breakthrough in AI edge computing power has also allowed Allwinner’s customers to expand from Huaqiangbei to industry leaders such as Xiaomi, Baidu, Midea, Anker Innovation, Inovance Technology, FAW, and Geely, making Allwinner a major domestic supplier of AI edge computing solutions.
Allwinner Technology (Zhuhai Allwinner Technology Co., Ltd., stock code: 300458.SZ) is a high-tech enterprise focused on the design of intelligent application processors, intelligent video processors, and IoT artificial intelligence processors. The company adheres to the industry positioning of “SoC+” and “intelligent big video,” laying a solid foundation and providing driving force for product innovation and market promotion around the MANS strategic route. Its products are widely used in smart hardware, smart automotive, smart home, industrial control, and other fields, making it one of the representative enterprises in the domestic chip design field.
According to its annual report, the total operating income for 2024 reached 2.288 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 36.76%; the net profit attributable to the parent company was 167 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 626.15%; the net profit attributable to the parent company after deducting non-recurring gains and losses was 116 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1,538.72%. In the first quarter of 2025, it achieved revenue of 620 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 51.36% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2.86%; the net profit attributable to the parent company was 92 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 86.51% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 481.13%, continuing to maintain a strong performance momentum.
Allwinner Technology has experienced a rebound from the performance low in 2022 to a strong recovery in 2024, with revenue increasing by 36.76% year-on-year and net profit increasing by a staggering 626.15%. From 2020 to 2024, Allwinner’s revenue performance has shown a clear “V”-shaped reversal trend.
2022 was a low point for Allwinner’s revenue, with a year-on-year decline of 26.69%, mainly affected by global public health events, declining consumer market demand, and intensified industry competition. Starting in 2023, Allwinner’s new business has grown rapidly, with revenue rebounding strongly, increasing by 49.99% year-on-year, and continuing to maintain a high growth rate of 36.76% in 2024. In terms of profitability quality, the company’s net profit margin after deducting non-recurring gains and losses reached 5.07% in 2024, significantly improving from 0.45% in 2023, indicating that the company’s profitability is strengthening, and performance growth is becoming more stable. The company has successfully passed the industry low point and entered a new growth cycle.
Allwinner’s R&D investment is crucial for its long-term development. According to financial data, the company has continuously increased its R&D investment in recent years:
In 2024, R&D investment reached 620 million yuan, nearly four times the net profit, accounting for 27.12% of revenue. The number of R&D personnel increased from 857 in 2020 to 1,325 in 2024, with the proportion rising from 73.84% to 95.38%. The company has begun to extend from consumer electronics to industrial control, automotive electronics, and smart security, with its product line covering intelligent application processors, intelligent video processors, and IoT artificial intelligence processors, forming a complete product matrix from low power consumption to high performance.
Allwinner stated that in 2024, it launched a new generation of AI chips supporting multiple AI frameworks and algorithms, with performance improved by over three times compared to the previous generation and power consumption reduced by over 50%, significantly enhancing the company’s competitiveness in AI applications. The new generation AI-ISP noise reduction algorithm can run efficiently with only 1 TNPU computing power on the V851 series chip through a deeply optimized system deployment strategy.
In ultra-high-definition display application scenarios, based on the T527 cloud PC solution and A733 tablet solution, the company has developed a new generation AI super-resolution (AI-SR) algorithm, achieving 2 to 4 times AI super-resolution effects with parallel acceleration of NPU + ASIC, enhancing low-resolution video to 4K resolution and significantly improving image detail and clarity.
In terms of product innovation, the company continues to upgrade its product series around customer pain points.
In the smart platform field, the company has completed the new generation A537 tape-out and verification using an octa-core A73 + A53 architecture, achieving comprehensive coverage of tablet products. In the robotics and industrial control field, the company has released a dedicated chip for robots with integrated 3 TNPU computing power, and an intelligent industrial control chip with integrated 2 TNPU computing power. In the smart vision field, the company has launched a new generation of low-power wireless fully integrated security chip V821, mainly aimed at 3M resolution universal IPC products. In the intelligent decoding display field, the company has quickly launched the second generation of smart projection H723 series chips and the H135 series chips aimed at ultra-micro projection, dedicated to enhancing the viewing experience for customers.
Through comprehensive empowerment of AI technology, Allwinner has established deep cooperation with industry-leading customers such as Xiaomi, Tencent, Alibaba, Baidu, Haier, SAIC, Taipower, and Siemens, focusing on AI voice and AI visual application chains, achieving mass production of various intelligent products, and becoming a major supplier in related niche markets. Currently, Allwinner has become one of the leading enterprises in the domestic AI chip field, jointly promoting the development of domestic AI chips with companies like Huawei HiSilicon and Cambricon.
Integrating the V821 into AI smart glasses priced at 200 yuan undoubtedly allows Allwinner, the price slayer, to provide powerful firepower for the upcoming “Battle of the Hundred Glasses,” marking the true beginning of a war for AI applications.
