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Graphic illustrating the split between XR devices using OLEDoS/LCD and AR glasses using Micro-LED/LCoS.

XR Devices and Smart Glasses Exhibition Trends at CES 2026: Display Technologies and Product Line Diversification

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At CES 2026, various XR devices and related display products were introduced.

Summary table of display specifications and technology types for key XR and AR glasses at CES 2026

CES 2026 display trends showing clear technology segmentation (LCD, OLEDoS, Micro-LED) based on device characteristics (VR/MR, AR Glasses).

For XR headsets, LCD offers advantages in supply chain stability and cost, along with relatively easier productization. Valve’s Steam Frame utilizes dual 2160×2160 LCD panels, emphasizing affordability for gaming and practical use.

Conversely, OLEDoS is emerging as a key differentiator in premium XR (VR/MR) and AR glasses for video viewing. During CES 2026, Pimax highlighted Crystal Super micro-OLED for its sharpness and immersion. Among panel manufacturers, Samsung Display unveiled a 1.4-inch, 5,000 PPI-class RGB OLEDoS not just as a panel exhibit, but in a headset demo form.

Samsung Electronics’ ‘Galaxy XR’ was selected as a CES Innovation Awards 2026 Honoree, incorporating white OLEDoS from Sony and Samsung Display.

The AR glasses segment featured two product types: see-through AR glasses based on waveguides and AR glasses focused on video viewing.

In see-through AR glasses, micro-LED projectors and LCoS are competing based on their distinct advantages. JBD introduced an ultra-compact full-color AR projector with its Hummingbird II Polychrome Projector, a CES Innovation Awards 2026 winner. Cellid presented its 2026 reference design combining a micro-LED projector with its own waveguide, explaining its approach to simultaneously achieve lightweight and optical performance.

The LCoS camp attempts differentiation by quantifying outdoor readability and efficiency. Himax and AUO demonstrated maximum brightness, output, and efficiency while driving front-lit LCoS (720×720) at 200mW, presenting it as an integrated solution combined with AUO’s waveguide. This trend indicates that the AR glasses market is shifting beyond individual component specification competition towards proposing and evaluating systems that bundle projectors, waveguides, and driving conditions.

AR glasses for video viewing prioritize immersive viewing experiences, emphasizing perceptible metrics like resolution, FOV, refresh rate, and connectivity first. Xreal unveiled its entry-level Xreal 1S priced at US$449. This represents a $50 price reduction from the previous model, the $499 Xreal One, enhancing accessibility. Key display specifications have been improved: 1200p resolution (up from 1080p), 700 nits brightness, a 52-degree field of view, and a 120Hz refresh rate. Competitiveness is further strengthened by adding various new features like auto-dimming and 2D-3D conversion.

According to UBI Research, at CES 2026, XR devices will differentiate themselves by using LCDs for entry-level products, while premium VR/MR devices and AR devices for video viewing will adopt OLEDoS. Meanwhile, see-through AR devices will see competition between micro-LED projectors and LCoS at the system level (display, optics, and driver).

Visual segmentation of display technology ecosystems for XR devices (LCD, OLEDoS) and AR glasses (See-Through, Media Viewing)

Next-gen wearable display ecosystem dividing into OLEDoS for Premium VR/MR and Micro-LED/LCoS for See-through AR. (Created by ChatGPT)

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶XR Industry Trends and OLEDoS Display Technology & Industry Analysis Report

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

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OMNIVISION's new LCoS panel OP03021, highlighting its compact size and high resolution.

Next Generation AR and AI Glass Display Innovation: OMNIVISION LCoS Panel and JBD MicroLED New Products

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OMNIVISION, which supplies LCoS to Meta’s smart glasses ‘Ray-Ban Display’, unveiled a high-resolution LCoS panel ‘OP03021’ for next-generation AR (augmented reality) glasses on December 16, 2025, and predicted mass production of the panel in the first half of 2026.

OMNIVISION's next-gen LCoS panel OP03021 for AR glasses

OMNIVISION’s 0.26-inch LCoS panel ‘OP03021’ with 2.5x higher resolution than previous models. (Source: Omnivision OP03021)

The newly released panel supports 1632 x 1536 resolution in a 0.26-inch optical format. This is an increase of about 2.5 times in resolution and nearly 6 times in total number of pixels compared to the existing 0.14-inch model (648p). When this panel is applied, it can secure a wide viewing angle of 30 to 40 degrees beyond the existing narrow viewing angle (20 degrees) limit, or dramatically increase the number of pixels per angle (PPD) to read web pages or e-mail text clearly. The volume of the optical engine equipped with the corresponding panel by integrating the driver IC is estimated to be about 1.5cc and the weight is about 4g.

Specification comparison table between the existing model and the new OP03021 model

The new OP03021 model features approx. 2.5x higher resolution and 1.85x larger panel size. (Source: UBI Research)

Meanwhile, JBD also officially announced that Hummingbird II, a next-generation microLED projector scheduled to be released in the first half of 2026, won the CES 2026 Innovation Award. It supports 500 × 380 resolution and 480Hz scan rate, and is an ultra-small and ultra-light product of 0.2cc and 0.5g that halves the volume and weight compared to previous generations. It emphasized that it is a full-color display solution optimized for AI and AR smart glasses for consumers by operating at low power of 95mW while implementing high luminance of up to 4,000 nits.

JBD Hummingbird II MicroLED projector on a fingertip

JBD’s ultra-compact MicroLED projector ‘Hummingbird II’, winner of the CES 2026 Innovation Award. (Source: JBD Hummingbird II)

The next-generation wearable display market is expected to clearly distinguish application fields according to technology characteristics.

  • MicroLED: Ultra-small size of 0.2cc is the strength, suitable for ‘everyday AI glasses’ that display simple data while maintaining the original design of glasses
  • LCoS: Responsible for the ‘universal AR glass’ market, which is suitable for web surfing or augmented reality information delivery, with high resolution and favorable characteristics for securing viewing angles.
  • OLEDoS: Based on high contrast ratio and color reproduction, market in the ‘MR headset and media glass’ area where video content consumption and immersion are important.

The industry is paying attention to the possibility of dualizing the smart glass lineup into ‘light AI glasses’ and ‘display-oriented AR glasses’ in the future. Expectations are growing for the possibility that new technologies such as OMNIVISION’s LCoS panel and JBD’s microLED will be applied to next-generation AR glasses of various global companies such as Meta, Apple, Google/Samsung.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶XR Industry Trends and OLEDoS Display Technology & Industry Analysis Report

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

※ This article is produced by UBIResearchNet.
Unauthorized reproduction or citation without source attribution is prohibited.
When quoting, please clearly indicate the source (UBIResearchNet) and provide a link.

Meta unveils Ray-Ban Display LCoS smart glasses and presents PIC-based LCoS research at SID 2025

Meta unveils ‘Ray-Ban Display’ smart glasses with LCoS, following up with a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based LCoS at SID 2025

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At Meta Connect 2025 on Sept. 18 (local 17), Meta announced its first display-bringing consumer smart glasses, the Meta Ray-Ban Display. The product is an intermediate step between the existing Ray-Ban AI glasses and the Orion AR glasses unveiled last year and will be available in the U.S. market later this month.

The new glasses feature a monocular display at the bottom of the right lens, which the company says was designed with practical factors such as price and battery life in mind. The display features OmniVision’s single-panel full-color LCoS, with a 600×600 resolution, 42 PPD, 20° monocular field of view, and up to 5,000 nits of brightness. Combined with Lumus’ Waveguide, it delivers a crisp visual experience even outdoors. These specifications fulfill the requirements of an informational AR device (20-35° FoV, high brightness, low power) and provide excellent visibility, especially in outdoor environments. Meta’s choice of LCoS over green LEDoS was a strategic decision based on technology maturity, power efficiency, and the ability to implement full color.

At SID 2025, Meta Reality Labs also announced its work on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based ultra-compact laser microdisplay. The technology offered the possibility of shrinking AR light engines to less than 1㎤, demonstrating a 50-degree viewing angle and high color uniformity. Despite the advantages of mature technology and competitive pricing, LCoS has been limited by the need for bulky optical modules. PICs replace traditional polarizing beamsplitters (PBSs), focusing lenses, and dichroic mirrors by implementing core optical functions such as light gathering, color separation, and polarization control on a chip. PIC-based laser lighting has great potential to scale as a platform for next-generation display technologies. It remains to be seen if the Meta Ray-Ban Display utilizes PICs.

LEDoS is not expected to be fully competitive until 2028 or later, and until then, full-color LCoS is likely to be the key solution for the AR glasses market. OmniVision, as well as Himax Display, Avegant, and Raontec, are working on the next generation of high-brightness, high-contrast LCoS engines, which will make them even more competitive in the near term.

The significance of this announcement is that Meta simultaneously unveiled OmniVision LCoS in commercial products and PIC-based ultra-compact laser microdisplays in research achievements. This demonstrates that the next generation of AR displays is rapidly evolving around the three pillars of miniaturization, efficiency, and quality, and is expected to accelerate the growth of the AR industry ecosystem.

Comparison of conventional LCoS projector and PIC-based LCoS presented at SID 2025 (Source: SID 2025 Digest)

Comparison of conventional LCoS and PIC-based LCoS structure (Source: SID 2025 Digest)

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶UBI Research’s Micro Display Report

Meta Ray-Ban Display AI/AR Glasses at Connect 2025

Meta Announced New Products: Meta Ray-Ban Display AI/AR Glasses, Evolving Beyond the Original Ray-Ban AI Glasses

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Meta held its Meta Connect 2025 event on the 18th (U.S. time: 17th) and officially announced several new products. Meta signaled a smart glasses boom, confirming its first consumer smart glasses with a display will launch in the U.S. later this month. Named ‘Meta Ray-Ban Display’, the glasses represent a midpoint product between the existing Ray-Ban AI glasses and Meta’s Orion AR glasses unveiled at last year’s Connect conference. They feature a ‘monocular panel’ positioned at the lower right corner of the right lens. The choice of a single monocular display appears driven by issues like cost and wearing time, and it requires pairing with a smartphone app.

Meta Ray-Ban Display AI/AR smart glasses unveiled at Connect 2025 (Source: Meta)

Meta Ray-Ban Display AI/AR smart glasses (Source: Meta)

These glasses feature a camera, multiple microphones, and speakers, enabling users to command the Meta AI voice assistant to take photos, record videos, play music, and more. The compact display provides functions such as notifications, turn-by-turn navigation, and real-time translation. The core display component utilizes an LCoS single-chip full-color microdisplay. Regarding the optical waveguide, it is known to utilize Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) technology licensed from Lumus. The wristband, based on surface electromyography (sEMG) technology, is the industry’s first product targeting the consumer market. The sEMG technology collects bioelectric signals from the wrist area via multiple electrodes embedded in the bracelet. It then uses algorithms to recognize these signals and convert them into corresponding gesture commands. “It’s the first smart glasses integrating a high-resolution display and Meta’s sEMG wristband while maintaining Ray-Ban’s signature design,” the company emphasized. Meta does not sell this wristband separately; it is sold as a set with the Ray-Ban Meta Display. The price for the AR glasses and sEMG wristband set unveiled by Meta is $799.

Meta officially unveiled five key new hardware products at this event. These include Meta’s first pair of AR glasses, three pairs of AI glasses without displays, and one electromyography (EMG) wristband based on sEMG technology.

Meta Connect 2025 lineup featuring Ray-Ban Display, AI glasses, AR glasses, and sEMG wristband (Source: Meta)

New product lineup unveiled at Meta Connect 2025 (Source: Meta)

Meta remains optimistic about the AI glasses market and continues its strategy to dominate the market. The social media company continues to promote AI-based wearable devices as the next-generation core technology following smartphones, and competition among companies is expected to intensify further.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research(ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

Competition between LEDoS and LCoS microdisplays for AR smart glasses (Source: UBI Research)

Competition for Microdisplays in AR Glasses: Who Will Prevail Between LEDoS and LCoS?

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The convergence of AI and AR technology advancements has led to a growing trend of AI/AR glasses being released, continuing from last year into the present. Meta is expected to announce its next-generation product, the ‘Hypernova’ smart glasses (Meta Celeste), at the Meta Connect 2025 conference scheduled for the 17th of this month (US time), drawing significant attention. Rumors suggest the display applied to the glasses will be an LCoS microdisplay panel. It is speculated that it will be a small, lightweight monocular HUD application, likely using a common LCoS 720×720 resolution product. It’s also speculated that the choice was influenced by the fact that implementing color with LEDoS panels requires using RGB mono panels in a cubic configuration, and Meta relies on the Chinese supplier JBD as the primary provider.

Last July in Shanghai, Alibaba Group unveiled its first AI glasses, the Quark glasses. They are targeting a launch within China by the end of the year. Regarding the display and optics, it was reported to use a monochrome (green) Micro-LED + waveguide structure, with JBD mentioned as the supplier. This product is a Micro-LED AR glass focused on HUD/information display, known for its design prioritizing outdoor readability, low power consumption, and lightweight characteristics. Additionally, Rokid’s smart glasses also employ mono Micro-LED + diffractive waveguides in both left and right lenses. Rokid announced that its smart glasses surpassed 40,000 units sold within just five days of starting online pre-orders on September 1st. China currently holds significant expectations for AI/AR smart glasses, with many companies adopting domestically produced LEDoS panels.

Competition between LEDoS and LCoS microdisplays is expected to continue in AR glasses. At the UBI Research Display Strategy Seminar held on September 5, a comparison of the competitiveness and outlook for LEDoS and LCoS was presented.

Comparison of near-eye headsets and glasses using LCoS (Source: UBI Research)

Comparison of near-eye headsets/glasses with LCoS (Source: UBI Research)

Comparison of AR smart glasses using LEDoS (Source: UBI Research)

Comparison of AR glasses using LEDoS (Source: UBI Research)

According to comparative analysis, for AR smart glasses targeting information display (HUD), translation, and interactive functions via displays with resolutions of 2VGA or 1080p and below, micro-LED-applied glasses were judged to be highly competitive in terms of form factor, power consumption, contrast, and image quality. For future immersive AR headsets and glasses products around 2K resolution, mutual competition is anticipated as each technology compensates for the other’s shortcomings. Smart glasses set manufacturers are expected to choose micro-displays based on price, strategic partnerships, or supply chain considerations. Ultimately, through the continued advancement of LEDoS technology, the adoption of small, lightweight, high-quality LEDoS panels is projected to expand within a few years.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research(ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report