Rokid Virtual Screen vs Meta Ray-Ban Display

Hello, I am Evelyn, writing to you from Beijing. Welcome to the latest edition of The China Connection – a brief snapshot of what I’m seeing and hearing from local businesses.

Today, I talk to a smart glasses executive about why price-conscious Chinese consumers are paying $100 more for AI frames. What is Meta’s strategy to compete with Ray-Ban Display outside China?

While smart-glasses wearers in the US got a smaller corner screen with its release Meta Ray-Ban Display Here in China, two companies are selling smart frames with a virtual display that sits right in front of the user.

Rokid is increasing sales globally — it Kept 3.9% market share last year — While Alibaba is also planning a overseas rollout After showing off its smart glasses at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year. During this time, meta says it has delayed the overseas release of the Ray-Ban Display due to inventory shortages and “unprecedented” US demand.

According to its website, Rokid currently ships its AI display glasses to countries including the UK and Canada – but not the US. The frame retails for $599 outside China; That’s less than the Meta Ray-Ban Display, which starts at $799 but isn’t officially sold in China, where a firewall blocks access to Facebook.

The global AI glasses market is expected to grow by more than 70% this year to reach 15 million units sold, according to Omdia, which predicts Chinese sales will double to 2.1 million frames.

But AI glasses with virtual displays are still niche – global sales are expected to grow by only a modest 10%, according to Jason Lo, Shanghai-based research director for connected life at Omdia.

He said that in China, however, despite some “rudimentary” displays, consumers prefer them because they want to interact with their devices that way.

Technically, Rokid and Alibaba use augmented reality technology to display green text and some images with their glasses, while Meta offers a color screen. And the fact that Meta’s frames are Ray-Ban definitely makes them fashionable.

But in China, Rokid users on social media say they like the central display because it makes navigation easier while riding a bike, for example, and it allows them to order coffee by talking while walking.

This spring, Rokid integrated AI agent OpenClaw into its frames, allowing users to manage their AI assistants by talking to their glasses. Importantly for its commercialization plans, Rokid also allows users to Full Alipay Mobile Payment Use AI Agent Store features by viewing QR codes, and connecting to Teslas, getting homework tutoring, and managing internet-connected home devices.

Getting consumers to adopt new technology, let alone new hardware, is not easy.

For several years after its founding in 2014, Rokid struggled to gain customers, even – in the spirit of “try before you buy” – for Hainan Airlines passengers. Was able to watch movies with glasses. Younger rivals like Xreal jumped ahead with better hardware.

Now, there is Rokid Reportedly planning to file for initial public offering In Hong Kong until the end of April. The startup did not respond to a request for comment on its plans.

Cai acknowledged that previous versions of Rokid’s glasses, before current display technology, were primarily used as a niche product by gamers.

But he said the company’s close relationships with its suppliers allowed it to make the new AI display glasses at a larger scale — and 20 grams lighter than the Meta. Rokid already generates 40% of its revenue outside mainland China, and aims to sell up to 1 million pairs this year, including a collaboration with eyewear brand Boulogne.

Still, will this be enough to help Rokid survive? Cai estimates that big companies like ByteDance and Huawei may join with Alibaba to enter the smart glasses market.

Chinese parts makers also want to get involved. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year, Chinese laser company Apotronics showed off its rival optical engines – including an engine for color displays. Michael Chen, general manager of the Apotronics Innovation Center, told me at the time that the company planned to meet with Google and Meta after the expo.

Smart glasses still present many privacy issues that need to be resolved, Cai said. But he is excited about the development of this technology and says that AI-powered display glasses could make smartphones obsolete.

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April 14: China March trade data

April 16: China Q1 GDP with retail sales, industrial production and investment data for March

April 16 – 25: Beijing International Film Festival

April 19: 2026 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon

April 20: People’s Bank of China monthly loan prime rate released