Viture countersues Xreal over alleged patent infringement on AR glasses

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The ongoing legal dispute between smart glasses makers Viture and Xreal has escalated, with Viture filing a countersuit against Xreal in China. Viture alleges that Xreal has infringed on its "electrochromic film technology" used in its smart glasses products. If Viture wins the lawsuit, it could restrict the manufacturing or export of Xreal's products that use this technology, and potentially even require the destruction of Xreal's manufacturing modules.

Why it matters

The outcome of this legal battle could have significant consequences for the future of augmented reality (AR) glasses. Xreal's smart glasses, including the recently announced Asus ROG Xreal R1, feature advanced electrochromic lenses that allow users to customize the transparency of the lenses. Losing access to this technology could be a major setback for Xreal and impact its ability to compete in the growing AR glasses market.

The details

Viture claims it has known about the potential infringement for some time but chose not to pursue legal action, instead focusing on improving its own products. However, the company now says it has no choice but to file the countersuit, which it describes as "truly the last step we ever wanted to pursue." The lawsuit was filed in China, where Xreal manufactures its smart glasses. Viture says that if it wins, it will restrict the manufacturing or export of products using the electrochromic film technology, and that Xreal's "manufacturing modules may need to be destroyed."

• Viture introduced electrochromic technology in its Viture One glasses, which started shipping to backers around March 2023.
• Xreal officially introduced electrochromic technology in its Xreal Air 2 Pro glasses in October 2023.
• In December 2023, a German court granted an injunction on Viture's glasses, temporarily blocking its ability to sell or market products in Germany and potentially nine other European countries.
• In the U.S., Xreal filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Viture in 2023, claiming Viture "unlawfully incorporated Xreal's patented inventions into its AR glasses products."
• Viture has now filed a countersuit against Xreal in China in 2026.

What’s next

The outcome of the countersuit filed by Viture in China will determine whether Xreal's manufacturing of smart glasses using electrochromic technology will be restricted or if its manufacturing modules will need to be destroyed.