Polarized & Seamless! Upgraded Rokid AR Glasses Leak with Hidden Waveguide

Recently, Rokid founder and CEO Zhu Mingming revealed that sales of Rokid Glasses have

surpassed 300,000 units. At the same time, a set of photos showing Zhu wearing a

sunglasses-style version of the Rokid Glasses began circulating online. According to sources

in the AR community, the images were originally sent by Zhu to friends via WeChat. Judging

from the photos and chat content, the new version not only features polarized lenses but also

removes the visible “waveguide markings” through technical improvements. This version is

expected to enter mass production in September.

In the leaked photos, Zhu is seen wearing a pair of AR glasses with dark-tinted lenses. At first

glance, the product appears different from the previously released transparent-lens version of

the Rokid Glasses, but it is actually the same base model with an added sunglasses lens.

According to XR Research Institute, the sunglasses lenses use a snap-on design. The

conversation revealed that these lenses are “polarized,” effectively giving the glasses the

added functionality of polarized sunglasses.

What’s more noteworthy is Zhu’s mention in a private conversation that “there are no more

waveguide markings on the front.” This improvement is significant in the design of AR

glasses, as waveguide markings—visible grating structures used for light coupling and

output—are a distinctive feature of waveguide-based AR glasses. When viewed by others,

these visible gratings make it easy to tell that the wearer is using smart glasses. Many users

hope AR glasses can appear more like ordinary eyewear to remain discreet.

From the leaked images, the new version of Rokid Glasses worn by Zhu indeed appears to

lack the obvious “waveguide markings” seen on current versions. This suggests a new optical

design may have been implemented to reduce or eliminate these visible features. Potential

methods include optimizing grating structures, improving refractive index matching in

waveguide materials, or adjusting the overall optical architecture.

From a user experience perspective, this visual improvement could enhance social

acceptance of AR glasses by making them look more like regular eyewear.