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As we approach a new year, it’s time for our annual ritual of synthesizing the lessons from the past twelve months and formulating the outlook for the next twelve. 2025 was an incremental year for spatial computing, which continues a gradual uphill ascent toward mainstream traction.
2025 highlights include XR’s ongoing convergence with AI, inflections in non-dispay AI glasses, the rise of video display glasses, and the unveiling of the long-awaited Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses. Meanwhile, roadmap signals emerged from players ranging from Snap to Apple.
All these approaches – video passthrough AR, optical seethrough AR, and non-display smartglasses – represent form-factor divergence and diversification. That’s a good thing, as XR should include varied formats that are purpose-built and use-case-driven – a key trend in 2025.
With that backdrop, what will 2026 look like in spatial computing? Aligned with the broader predictions of our research arm, ARtillery Intelligence, we’ve devised 5 predictions for 2026. We’ll break them down weekly, continuing here with #3: 2026 Sets the Table for 2027 Inflection.
Prediction 1: AI’s Bubble Bursts… But the Value to XR Lasts
Prediction 2: Your Face is the Next AI Battleground
Prediction 3: 2026 Sets the Table for 2027 Inflection
Prediction 4: Android XR Unlocks Spatial Scale
Prediction 5: Video Display Glasses Pull Ahead
Setting the Table
Picking up where the previous prediction left off, we’ll see an uptick in new AR glasses launches in the next 24 months. But 2026 will be more about setting the table for the sales impact that follows in 2027. We say that because several signals point to AR glasses launches in late 2026.
Therefore, when looking at the full-year impact of these devices, greater numbers will be seen in the 12-month runway of the 2027 calendar year. This matters as calendar-year sales are a standard metric in market forecasting and revenue reporting (though fiscal calendars vary).
One question is how big the 2027 inflection will be, and the growth rate that follows. The latter could decelerate as a saturation point is reached. In other words, supply could meet AR’s demand ceiling as all these device blitz the market. This sequence will represent a classic S-curve.
Naming names, Snap’s consumer Spectacles will launch in late 2026, as will Samsung’s Android XR glasses that rival Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses (MRBD). Speaking of Android XR, the same timeline will define other market entrants built on the platform, such as Xreal’s project Aura.
Moving on to non-display AI glasses, several Ray-Ban Meta Smartglasses rivals will chase its market-validated demand. That most notably includes Android XR’s already-announced OEM partners, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. We’ll likely see other partners announced in 2026.
A more daring projection is Apple’s smart glasses entrance in 2026, though it’s more likely to ship in 2027 (with an Apple-style unveiling possible in late 2026). Like Meta, Apple will likely start with non-display AI glasses, followed a year or more later with flat-AR display glasses.
Concrete Prediction
Android XR’s market entrance started with this year’s Galaxy XR and will continue into 2026 with several AR devices across categories. Android XR can do this, given its scalable model, where OEM partners do most of the heavy lifting in device design, fabrication, and distribution.
This means several Android XR devices will be in play at once. Altogether, 2026 unit sales of AR glasses will reach 6.93 million – 47 percent year-over-year growth. This will be followed by a sales inflection in 2027 when the above devices realize their first full year of sales runway.
We’ll pause there and circle back next week with another 2026 prediction. Meanwhile, see the full report. And to calibrate our aptitude and track record in projecting XR market outcomes, see our recent article evaluating last year’s predictions.