MetaOptics Ships Metalens AI Smart Glasses and Smartphones for Evaluation

Singapore-headquartered semiconductor optics company MetaOptics (Catalist: 9MT) has begun shipping evaluation units of its metalens-integrated 5G smartphone and AI smart glasses to prospective customers across Europe, Japan, and the Philippines. The milestone moves the company from showcase demonstrations at CES 2026 to real-world product testing with leading consumer electronics brands and telecom operators.

MetaOptics’ core technology — glass-based colour metalenses — replaces traditional multi-element lens stacks with a single ultra-thin optical layer, making camera modules thinner, smaller, and more heat-resistant. The 5G smartphone evaluation unit runs on Qualcomm’s Dragonwing QCM6490 platform and features a bump-free back cover with a hidden metalens camera module and under-display 3D fingerprint sensor. The AI smart glasses, powered by the Qualcomm AR1 Snapdragon platform, are lightweight with gesture-based controls for all-day wear.

Executive Chairman Thng Chong Kim called the shipment "a defining step in our journey from showcase to mass adoption." Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Singapore, MetaOptics operates both 4-inch and 12-inch mass production platforms for its semiconductor-fabricated metalenses. These components target smartphones, AR/VR wearables, pico projectors, LiDAR, and automotive sensing — markets that increasingly rely on compact optics paired with AI image processing.

Why it matters for Singapore: MetaOptics represents a rare vertically integrated deep-tech manufacturer headquartered in Singapore, spanning from materials science to finished device prototypes. As Singapore positions itself as a semiconductor and advanced manufacturing hub, MetaOptics’ ability to ship evaluation hardware to demanding markets in Europe and Japan demonstrates that Singapore-based companies can compete at the cutting edge of optical AI hardware — not just software and services.