Rokid Launches AI-Powered AR Eyewear to Compete with Smartphones

Hangzhou-based AI and augmented-reality glasses maker Rokid has launched a lightweight, AI-powered eyewear device in collaboration with Chinese eyewear brand Bolon. Weighing only 38.5 grams, the new D-shaped black frame supports customized prescription lenses, allowing users to wear it like regular sunglasses while maintaining a fashionable look.

The device features a physical control button and a touchpad on the right temple for user interaction. It is powered by Qualcomm's AR1 chipset, enabling functionalities such as video recording, photo capturing, music playback, and navigation.

Misa Zhu Mingming, Rokid's CEO and founder, emphasized that AI glasses are approaching their iPhone moment, indicating a potential shift in consumer technology. Interestingly, despite not having a display, the eyewear integrates with leading Chinese AI models, including Alibaba's Qwen, DeepSeek, ByteDance's Doubao, and Zhipu, to provide a voice-activated digital assistant.

This innovation signifies a strategic move in the race to make smart glasses the next mass-market device after smartphones. The starting price for the frame is 2,199 yuan, approximately 310 US dollars, with additional costs for prescription lenses.

Bolon, the eyewear label collaborating with Rokid, is now part of the EssilorLuxottica group, enhancing the product's market credibility. This launch could mark a pivotal moment in the convergence of AI and AR technologies, potentially redefining personal technology usage for consumers.

Sources indicate that Rokid is positioning itself at the forefront of this emerging category.