As smart glasses move from concept products to mass consumer goods, a renowned Chinese manufacturing city is quietly becoming the core hub of the global supply chain. On May 7th, the "Overall Plan for the Construction of the Global Intelligent Manufacturing Center in Dongguan (2026–2030)" was officially released, clearly stating that one out of every two AI glasses globally is made in Dongguan. This figure not only highlights Dongguan's manufacturing advantages in the wearable devices sector but also marks the AI glasses industry as a signature field for cultivating new quality productive forces in Dongguan.

Local Benchmark: Qianhuanshiheng's "Decade of Refinement"

In Dongguan's AI glasses industry cluster, Dongguan Qianhuanshiheng Industrial Co., Ltd. is a typical representative. The company's growth trajectory reflects the upgrading path of China's manufacturing from "contract manufacturing and following" to "self-driven leadership":

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Currently, Qianhuanshiheng has formed three core product matrices: VR/AR devices, AI smart glasses, and smart audio wearables, with an annual output of 3-4 million units. Among them, AI glasses account for over 20%, with an annual output of 500,000-600,000 units, making it the fastest-growing business segment of the company.

Dongguan's Advantages: From "World Factory" to "Smart Manufacturing Hub"

The reason why Dongguan can capture 50% of the global AI glasses production capacity is no accident:

  1. Supply Chain Cluster Effect: Dongguan has the most complete consumer electronics supply chain in the world, with over 90% of components, including optical lenses, micro-sensors, and precision structural parts, available within a "one-hour economic circle," significantly reducing R&D and mass production costs;
  2. Engineering Capability Accumulation: A workforce of hundreds of thousands of industrial workers and engineers possesses the "hard-core execution power" to quickly transform lab prototypes into stable mass-produced products;
  3. Policy Precision Guidance: This "Overall Plan" explicitly proposes to build a "global AI glasses innovation source," providing systematic support in areas such as R&D subsidies, talent settlement, and scenario openness;
  4. Location and Logistics Advantages: Located near Shenzhen and Guangzhou, leveraging the science and technology resources and port hub of the Greater Bay Area, it realizes efficient collaboration of "R&D in Shenzhen, manufacturing in Dongguan, and sales worldwide."

Industry Trends: AI Glasses Are Moving from "Novelty" to "Necessity"

Qianhuanshiheng's practice shows that the commercialization turning point of AI glasses has arrived:

  • Technological Maturity: Capabilities such as 13 million pixel cameras, low-power edge-side large models, and multimodal interaction make glasses truly capable of "understanding the world and listening to commands" with practical value;
  • Scenario Implementation: From industrial inspection and remote collaboration to daily navigation and real-time translation, B-end and C-end demand is exploding simultaneously;
  • Cost Reduction: Mass production drives terminal prices into a range acceptable to the general public, accelerating the adoption process.

Strategic Significance: The "Dongguan Model" of New Quality Productive Forces

Dongguan's bet on the AI glasses track essentially restructures the value chain of manufacturing through "hardware + AI + scenarios":

  • For upstream: It drives the localization of high-end components such as optical chips, sensors, and batteries;
  • For midstream: It promotes contract manufacturers to upgrade to "design + manufacturing + brand" integration;
  • For downstream: It fosters new industries such as live streaming, cultural tourism, and education, forming a "hardware export + service export" dual-wheel drive.

When an AI glasses manufactured in Dongguan assists engineers in inspecting equipment at overseas construction sites, or translates road signs for tourists during travel, the connotation of "Made in China" has evolved from "cost-effectiveness" to "intelligent value." Of course, challenges remain: issues such as core algorithm originality, international standard influence, and data cross-border compliance still require continuous breakthroughs. However, there is no doubt that Dongguan is transforming the blueprint of the "Global Smart Manufacturing Center" into reality on the production line with a pragmatic attitude—each AI glasses leaving here for the world is the most vivid footnote of China's new quality productive forces.