US, China Battle for AI Smart Glasses Dominance at MWC 2026

"How do I walk to Camp Nou?" "First, go straight for 548 steps."

At the Google "Android XR" booth at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, the world's largest mobile communications exhibition, on Tuesday, the Google artificial intelligence (AI) glasses this reporter wore displayed directions on the lens and immediately indicated the route to Camp Nou soccer stadium. When I took two steps forward and turned around, the arrow instantly reversed direction. A booth staff member explained, "You'll be able to navigate conveniently while walking or cycling without looking at your smartphone."

MWC 2026 has emerged as a battleground for smart glasses, the next-generation AI device. Leading AI players from the United States and China set up dedicated booths, drawing intense interest from visitors. While outwardly indistinguishable from regular eyeglasses, these devices deliver diverse and convenient functions powered by built-in AI technology. Analysts note that global big tech competition is intensifying to catch up with Meta, which has successfully established market dominance. Some predict that AI device success may ultimately depend on AI model performance.

What impressed most about the Google AI glasses was that the AI recognized different languages without separate settings, even when mixing English and Korean. When this reporter asked in Korean for an explanation about Camp Nou, the speaker in the glasses responded, "It's a Barcelona landmark where Spanish professional soccer team FC Barcelona plays home matches," with Korean text appearing on the lens. Questions in English yielded voice and text responses in English. Staff introduced that users can access Google Maps, YouTube Music, and Nanobanana.

The glasses worn that day were a prototype. Google has stated it will launch its first AI glasses product commercially within the year. Development is currently underway in partnership with Samsung Electronics and eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The "unfinished product" delivered powerful performance thanks to built-in Google Gemini. The experience demonstrated that an era is approaching when AI can be easily utilized just by wearing glasses, without touching any device. The Google AI glasses experience became one of MWC 2026's most popular attractions, with wait times reaching up to two hours.

Chinese company Alibaba also emphasized smart glasses at this MWC. The "QWEN Glasses" booth drew influencers from Asia, Europe, and other regions for hands-on demonstrations. The smart glasses equipped with Qwen, one of China's leading AI models, can translate up to 96 languages in real time. The device features "swappable dual batteries (272mAh)" with magnetic detachment at the temple tips, addressing the limitation of rapid battery drain.

Long queues also formed continuously at the booth of Meta, the pioneer of smart glasses. Meta's exhibited second-generation product, created in collaboration with Ray-Ban, features call and camera functions. When asked for a recipe, the cooking process appeared on the lens.

The information technology (IT) industry expects smart glasses adoption to accelerate faster than any other next-generation AI device currently discussed. Observers particularly note they could replace heavy extended reality (XR) headsets. Market research firm Smart Analytics Global (SAG) defined 2026 as the year smart glasses market takes off in earnest. Global smart glasses revenue this year is projected to surge more than fourfold from last year's $1.2 billion to $5.6 billion (approximately 8.3 trillion won). By 2030, smart glasses shipments are forecast to reach 75 million units with revenue growing to $29 billion. As smart glasses rapidly emerge as the protagonist of next-generation AI devices, the telecommunications industry is also paying close attention.