Foxconn Technology Group plans to bring augmented reality glasses to the consumer market as early as 2026, according to Chiang Chih-Hsiung, general manager of the company’s Business Group B and Digital Health Division. The timeline remains tentative as the Taiwanese contract manufacturer works to establish itself in a nascent but increasingly crowded market.
The announcement puts Foxconn in direct competition with Meta Platforms, which is preparing to launch its $800 Hypernova AR glasses this year, and Apple, which has reportedly scaled back its own AR ambitions despite CEO Tim Cook’s stated priority for the technology. Industry reports suggest the AR glasses market grew 110% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, though from a relatively small base.
Chiang said Foxconn will adopt a phased approach to entering what the company calls the next-generation human-machine interface market, with ambitions of becoming a leader in future interaction platforms. The company believes AR glasses integrating near-eye displays and eye-tracking technologies represent the most promising solutions in the artificial intelligence era.
Foxconn has already announced plans to establish a microLED wafer processing production line in Taichung, with mass production slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 through its partnership with Porotech. The collaboration aims to develop micro-display chips for AR applications, though whether those chips will power Foxconn’s own consumer glasses remains unclear.
The company has also launched a partnership with Nobel Vision Optics to conduct clinical studies on visual comfort and long-duration use of AR devices. Chiang revealed that initial AR glasses will not target medical applications but will instead focus on next-generation consumer interface needs, though pricing discussions are still ongoing.
Market research firm Grand View Research projects the global smart glasses market will reach $8.26 billion by 2030, growing at a 27.3% compound annual growth rate. However, current products face significant technical hurdles, including battery life, display quality, and consumer acceptance of wearing technology on their faces.
Foxconn’s entry comes as the AR industry faces a critical juncture. Apple reportedly canceled its advanced AR glasses project this year, marking a setback for the company’s efforts to create mainstream augmented reality devices. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook remains “hell bent” on bringing true AR glasses to market before Meta, with one insider suggesting Cook “cares about nothing else” from a product development standpoint.
The challenge for Foxconn will be differentiating its offering in a market where early products have struggled to gain traction beyond niche applications. The company’s experience as a contract manufacturer may provide cost advantages, but success will likely depend on compelling use cases that justify consumer adoption of yet another connected device.
