- The move deepens Conant’s growing footprint in AR, XR optics.
- Traditional lens makers are increasingly seeking opportunities to embed operations more deeply into emerging smart eyewear sector.
Rokid, a Hangzhou-based augmented reality (AR) unicorn, is set to trade a roughly 5% stake for 180 million yuan ($26 million) in equity investment from lens optical maker Conant Optical (2276.HK), signaling deepening synergies between AR tech developers and traditional manufacturers across the smart-glasses supply chain.
In a March 29 filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Shanghai’s Conant Optical (02276.HK) said the company’s board had agreed to the equity acquisition, saying it represents a crucial milestone for Conant in its new smart glasses business.
Rokid, which has developed both consumer and industrial smart glasses over the past decade, offers AI-powered products such as Rokid Air and Rokid Max.
Its devices weigh just 49 grams, are compatible with standard prescription lenses, and support voice commands, real-time translation, and object recognition, according to the unicorn’s product brochures.
Conant Optical said the investment, funded from internal resources, complements its existing partnership with Rokid and aims to boost coordination along the smart glasses supply chain.
The company is already a major resin lens manufacturer, ranking second globally by 2024 output, and has expanded into XR smart glasses through joint ventures (JV) and collaborations — such as its JV with Goertek, an Apple chain company.
Notably, Conant has supplied lenses for Alibaba’s Quark AI glasses.
By investing in Rokid, Conant intends to secure a key role as a core optical supplier for future smart eyewear, while leveraging the partnership to advance its coating processes, diopter adjustment, and lightweight optical design capabilities.
The deal underscores a broader trend of traditional vision-tech players moving from supporting roles into the forefront of the smart glasses sector.
