
Smart glasses maker Even Realities hits $1B valuation with $150M funding led by Meituan, Tencent
THE SO WHAT
A $1B valuation for camera-free smart glasses backed by Meituan and Tencent says quiet AR is a bet on everyday utility, not spectacle. If you build consumer or local-services apps, start mapping use cases where ambient, screenless interfaces beat phones—China may set the pattern here.
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