Click the blue text to follow us
In the past week, the VR/AR field has remained very active, with numerous new developments. Whether it is promotions and new product announcements in the consumer hardware sector, advancements in underlying chips and optical technologies, or practical applications in culture, education, and film, it is evident that this industry is rapidly growing.
The competition in hardware is becoming more intense, technical challenges are continuously being overcome, and application scenarios are becoming increasingly diverse. The news from this week clearly demonstrates that XR technology is gradually moving from concepts and laboratories into the daily lives of the public and various industries.
01 Hardware Market Takes a “People-Friendly Approach”
From Pricing to Functionality, Deeply Integrated into Daily Life
In the past week, the consumer-grade VR/AR hardware market has shown two distinct trends. On one hand, leading manufacturers are attracting users with more affordable prices to expand their market share; on the other hand, the AI smart glasses category is rapidly emerging, seen as a potential next-generation mainstream mobile interaction device.
In the headset sector,Meta Quest 3S recently launched a limited-time promotion at Best Buy, with the 128GB version priced at $250, along with a $110 gift card, membership, and games.
This indicates that while Meta maintains its high-end product line, it is also continuously exploring the entry-level market through a cost-performance strategy. Although the official recommendation still suggests that budget-conscious users opt for the more powerful Quest 3, this price reduction indeed allows more consumers to experience VR at a lower cost.
At the same time, the AI smart glasses market is particularly active. Xiaomi has pushed a firmware update for its AI glasses, adding features such as English speaking practice, voice-controlled vehicle operation, and Douyin live streaming.Quark AI glasses have deepened their collaboration with Alipay, introducing bone conduction technology and aiming assistance features to enhance the payment experience.
These updates indicate that AI glasses are evolving from simple voice assistants to intelligent terminals that are deeply integrated into daily life.
Regarding market prospects,Rokid’s founder Zhu Mingming predicts that the company’s shipments will exceed one million units next year, with the potential to reach tens of millions in the future.This prediction is based on data: IDC reports show an 82.3% increase in global smart glasses shipments in the first quarter of 2025; Qunzhi Consulting expects the annual market size to grow by 110%, reaching 5.7 million units.
Additionally, according to previous reports, Yingmu Technology completed over 150 million yuan in Series B financing in July, and Thunderbird Innovation announced on November 7 that it completed Series C financing led by CITIC Jinshi, setting a new record for a single financing round in the domestic AI+AR glasses sector in 2025.
Recent large-scale financing for leading domestic smart glasses companies reflects the capital market’s optimism about this sector. As more manufacturers join and technology matures, competition in the AI glasses market will become even more intense.
Comment:Lowering prices and integrating more features is an inevitable process for hardware products to enter the mass market. However, fierce market competition is also testing the profitability and ecosystem development of various companies. How to retain users and establish a sustainable business model will be the main challenge ahead.
02 Significant Progress in Spatial Computing Chips and
AR Optical Solutions
This week, the XR field achieved significant breakthroughs in underlying technologies, particularly in spatial computing chips and AR optical solutions.
A domestic technology companyGravity announced that it will release the world’s first fully functional spatial computing chip and supporting solutions at the Spatial Computing Conference on the 27th of this month. This chip focuses on enhancing data processing speed, multi-sensor collaboration, and energy management capabilities, aiming to address the technical challenges of real-time environmental perception in XR devices and robotics. For a long time, the XR industry has faced the dilemma of core technologies being controlled by others. If this breakthrough can be successfully achieved, it will strongly promote the autonomy of the industrial chain and provide core technical support for the next generation of XR devices.
In the field of optical solutions that affect the appearance and wearing experience of AR devices,AAC Technologies has decided to acquire the Finnish optical waveguide technology company Dispelix. Optical waveguide technology is key to making AR glasses lighter and more suitable for daily wear. This collaboration will combine both parties’ strengths in optical design and precision manufacturing, potentially accelerating the mass production of high-performance AR glasses and bringing consumer-grade AR products to market sooner.
Additionally,Samsung has also announced a patent for smart glasses hinges, which enhance wearing comfort through an adjustable frame design to accommodate different head shapes. This indicates that manufacturers are not only tackling core technologies but also continuously optimizing user experience.
Comment: Chips and optical technologies are the foundation of XR industry development. Breakthroughs by domestic companies in these core areas demonstrate that the Chinese XR industry is deepening its focus from application-level to underlying technology research and development, which is of great significance for enhancing international competitiveness.
03 Expanding VR Large Space Application Scenarios,
Cultural Education and Tourism Become Hotspots
This week, XR technology has made substantial progress in applications within culture, education, and tourism, showcasing its immense potential when combined with traditional industries.
In cultural preservation and innovation, several projects have been launched. The VR exhibition hall of“Quzi Imprint”, supported by the Xinjiang Aid Command, opened in Kuqa, Xinjiang, recreating the appearance of the ancient country of Kucha during the Tang Dynasty through VR technology; Hubei University launched the“Poetic Realm: VR Immersive Space” project, using VR technology to recreate the artistic conception of Li Bai’s poetry; at the same time, the first domestic VR opera film“On the Wall, Continuing the Romance” has started filming in Shanghai, attempting to combine traditional Peking opera with VR technology.
These practices indicate that XR technology is becoming a new carrier for inheriting and innovating traditional culture.
In the education sector, XR technology is gradually being integrated into daily teaching. Zhengzhou University uses VR technology in archaeology courses, allowing students to “walk into” virtually restored ancient tombs, enhancing teaching effectiveness; the defense-themed VR project“Tianyi Plan” was also exhibited at the Education Expo, providing students with an immersive national defense education experience. These cases prove that XR technology can break through temporal and spatial limitations, creating teaching environments that traditional classrooms find difficult to achieve.
In the cultural tourism industry, XR experiences are becoming new highlights. The first XR experience center in Tibet opened in Lhasa, featuring the“Long March: Heroes” VR project;
Xining in Qinghai launched theAntarctic Scientific Expedition VR Experience Exhibition, allowing inland audiences to experience the scene of polar exploration. Wuhan Huangpi also announced that it will launch an XR project themed onMulan. The increase in these offline experience points indicates that the “XR + cultural tourism” model is being accepted by the market.
Comment:The widespread application of XR in the cultural and educational fields reflects both the social value of technology and the exploration of viable business paths. For such projects to continue to succeed, it is crucial to balance content and technology, avoiding excessive pursuit of form at the expense of substance.
04 Capital and Policy Drive Development
This week, capital and policy continue to provide dual momentum for the development of the XR industry.
In terms of financing, the market remains active. In addition to the previously mentioned Yingmu Technology and Thunderbird Innovation,AR swimming goggles brand Guangli Technology also completed Series B financing this week,and Gyges Labs, the company behind the world’s first all-weather wearable invisible display AI glasses, also received a new round of investment. This continuous influx of funds provides important support for companies to advance technology research and expand markets.
On the policy front,Sichuan Province recently announced the first batch of seed unicorn enterprises,with Yingmu Technology’s inclusion reflecting local government attention to cutting-edge technology companies like XR.
At the same time, the Guangdong Consumer Council jointly released a comparative test report on AI smart glasses, evaluating 15 products comprehensively. Such independent third-party assessments help consumers make more informed choices and encourage companies to improve product quality.
The overall growth trend of the industry is also confirmed by macro data: according to information released by the Ministry of Commerce,from January to October this year, the online retail sales of smart wearable products such as AI glasses and smartwatches increased by 23.1%.
Comment:The current development model of “policy guidance + market drive” is playing a role in the XR field. The government creates a favorable environment for the industry through recognition and standard-setting, while capital is more willing to invest in companies that excel in technology or application implementation.
05 Ecological Cooperation Further Opens Up,
Cross-Industry Integration Becomes More Diverse
This week, the XR field continues to show a trend of open cooperation, with companies in various segments of the industrial chain collaborating to improve the ecosystem and enhance experiences.
China Mobile Migu, as a partner of the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, participated in discussions on virtual reality film seasons and plans to launch an XR large space experience project in Xiamen; on the product side, Quark AI glasses have further deepened cooperation with Alipay to optimize the payment experience.
At the same time, Rokid has announced partnerships with several companies including Amap, Alipay, JD Technology, and QQ Music, expanding the application scenarios of its smart glasses by integrating more services. This open cooperation model allows companies to complement each other’s strengths and provide users with more comprehensive services.
Comment:XR experiences involve multiple aspects such as hardware, software, content, and services, making it difficult for a single company to accomplish independently. Through collaboration, companies in the industrial chain can leverage their strengths to jointly promote the development of the entire market, which is also a sign of the industry’s gradual maturity.
Summary
Overall, the current XR industry is in a vibrant and critical stage.In terms of hardware, product prices are becoming more affordable, and functionality is becoming more diverse;in core technology areas, chips and optical components have made solid progress;
in application areas, technology and culture are deeply integrated, giving rise to many innovative scenarios and accelerating applications across various industries. With the joint promotion of capital investment and policy guidance, the industry ecosystem is showing a more open and collaborative trend.
In the future, all parties need to continue to promote technological innovation, enabling XR technology to effectively assist various industries and serve the public.
The above is a summary and commentary on some noteworthy XR industry events from this week. VRAR Planet will bring you the latest industry news as soon as possible,and we welcome you to follow the 【VRAR Planet】 public account and video account.
To learn more about the latest industry news
Scan to join the XR Enthusiasts Group
Business Cooperation｜13146398132
Tip Submission｜13146398132
Media Cooperation｜13341147250
VR / AR Planet
