Fielmann predicts smart glasses won’t replace smartphones in coming years

Marc Fielmann, chief executive of the German optical retailer Fielmann, told the German press that smart glasses are unlikely to supplant smartphones within the next two to three years. He said the technology remains a niche product, with sales limited to roughly 200 of the chain’s 1,300 worldwide stores and demand concentrated in large cities and abroad, notably in Spain and the United States.

Fielmann noted that while tech enthusiasts and Meta (Facebook) hope the devices could eventually replace phones, current user numbers cannot be compared with mainstream wearables such as AirPods or smartwatches. The glasses resemble ordinary eyewear but may include cameras, microphones, speakers and displays that enable recording, calls and translation.