South Korea’s LetinAR is building optics behind AI glasses
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- LetinAR secured $18.5 million in financing from Korea Development Bank, Lotte Ventures, and other investors, ahead of a planned 2027 IPO in South Korea.
- LG Electronics previously invested in LetinAR and is now developing its own AI smart glasses, signaling its strategic entry into the market.
- PinTILT is LetinAR’s proprietary optical module that arranges tiny elements inside a lens to deliver thin, lightweight, power‑efficient displays for AI glasses.
- Global AI glasses shipments rose to 8.7 million units in 2025, a >300 % increase from 2024, and are projected to exceed 15 million units in 2026 (Omdia).
- Meta has been selling AI‑enabled Ray‑Ban glasses since 2023, while Google is building Android XR, Samsung plans AI‑capable glasses with Gentle Monster, and Chinese firms such as Huawei, Alibaba, and Xiaomi are also entering the market, highlighting fierce competition.
Why it matters: AI‑glass makers gain a lightweight, power‑efficient lens solution, shrinking device size and battery load; LetinAR’s $18.5 M funding and upcoming IPO speed its market entry, while rivals confront heightened pressure to match its optics.
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