Beijing has rolled out a comprehensive package of financial incentives — highlighted by a 15 percent consumer subsidy of up to 500 yuan ($75.2) per item — to boost purchases of smart glasses and unleash the potential of next-generation intelligent terminals.
Under the 2026 implementation guidelines for digital and smart product subsidies issued by the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, this direct subsidy applies to the final sales price of eligible smart eyewear. To further stimulate the market, the capital is offering up to 1 million yuan to enterprises that open retail locations such as Asian, Chinese mainland or Beijing debut stores, flagship stores and innovative concept stores.
Equal rewards are available for hosting new product launches or developing cross-branded merchandise featuring renowned intellectual properties.
The municipal government is also providing substantial backing for commercial innovation. Projects creating international consumption experience spaces or landmark theme stores in key business districts, tourist areas and transportation hubs can receive up to 20 million yuan in support. Additionally, retailers expanding their range of tax-free goods are eligible for financial rewards of up to 4 million yuan annually.
Meanwhile, to encourage enterprises to build online marketing systems, companies investing in new models and technologies — such as livestreaming e-commerce, instant retail and artificial intelligence — can secure up to 1 million yuan, covering up to 50 percent of their approved actual investment. The city will also assist local enterprises in exploring international markets through subsidies for overseas exhibitions, product certifications and patent applications.
This policy push comes as the smart wearable sector experiences explosive growth. According to market research firm Runto, China's smart glasses retail sales reached 909,000 units in the first half of 2026, generating 1.88 billion yuan in revenue.
Furthermore, global technology research firm Omdia noted that global AI glasses shipments reached 8.7 million units in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 322 percent, with China ranking as the world's second-largest market.
Capitalizing on this rapid expansion, domestic tech companies are accelerating their product iterations. Chinese AI and augmented reality brand Rokid recently unveiled its latest generation of smart eyewear. Zhu Mingming, founder and CEO of Rokid, indicated that the smart glasses industry has reached a crucial inflection point for mass adoption.
He noted that personal AI terminals are rapidly evolving from simple information prompt tools into next-generation human-computer interaction platforms.
As shipment volumes multiply, Zhu pointed out that the core of market competition has fundamentally shifted from whether a device can display information to how well it can present it. In this emerging paradigm, AI is tasked with understanding user intentions, while the glasses serve to translate complex information into intuitive visual content without leaving the user's real-world field of view.
To achieve this, companies are enhancing practical functionalities. For instance, the upgraded Rokid Glasses 2 integrates audio recording with first-person visuals to generate meeting summaries and to-do lists. It also features a 12-megapixel imaging system with HDR and anti-shake capabilities. Meanwhile, the Rokid Ring addresses interaction challenges by introducing micro-gesture controls while supporting health monitoring functions.
To support these new interaction methods, manufacturers are actively building application ecosystems. Rokid has detailed its collaborations with various platforms, such as partnering with Qoder for AI programming tasks, and teaming up with Rednote and Meituan to bring local service searches and delivery alerts into the user's view.
Looking ahead, data from market research firm Runto indicate that China's full-year smart glasses shipments are projected to reach 3.2 million units in 2026. Globally, the firm's data show shipments are expected to surpass 13 million units this year — a massive leap from a mere 830,000 units in 2023 — marking the industry's official crossing of the threshold into large-scale commercialization.
renqi@chinadaily.com.cn
