
xMEMS Labs powers BleeqUp AI sports glasses
xMEMS Labs has announced that its Cowell MEMS tweeter is now shipping in an AI sports glasses product from BleeqUp, a hardware startup based in China. This milestone marks the first commercial deployment of a MEMS tweeter in AI glasses and signals xMEMS’ growing momentum in the fast-expanding AI eyewear market.
BleeqUp’s new AI sports glasses feature a two-way audio architecture in each arm, combining a traditional dynamic woofer for low frequencies with the Cowell MEMS tweeter to deliver high-frequency clarity, crisp treble detail, and improved voice intelligibility. The result is a richer, more immersive audio experience for outdoor cyclists – with enhanced resistance to wind noise – while keeping ears open to the environment for safety.
“xMEMS is proud to help power the next generation of AI wearables,” said Steven Bentley, VP of Worldwide Sales at xMEMS Labs. “The integration of Cowell into BleeqUp’s glasses showcases the high-fidelity performance of our MEMS speakers. We’re excited to help more companies accelerate their path to market with compact, high-performance audio solutions for AI glasses.”
The Cowell tweeter measures just 1mm thin and weighs 56 milligrams, a fraction of legacy coil-based speakers, giving designers the freedom to create thinner, lighter, and more stylish AI glasses without sacrificing audio quality. As AI eyewear rapidly evolves to include real-time translation, personal assistants, and contextual information overlays, the need for high-quality, low-profile speakers that preserve situational awareness has never been greater.
According to IDC, the global smart glasses market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 22% through 2028, driven by advancements in AI processing, battery efficiency, and consumer demand for seamless digital/physical integration. Audio is a critical component of this experience, and traditional speakers are often too bulky, heavy, or power-hungry to meet modern design and user expectations.
Cowell’s debut in glasses sets the stage for the upcoming Sycamore, xMEMS’ next-generation full-range MEMS loud speaker that eliminates the need for a 2-way system by delivering all audio frequencies (bass, midrange, and treble) from a single 1mm-thin driver. Sycamore is 70% thinner and 90% lighter than conventional coil speakers, enabling all-day comfort and even more streamlined eyewear designs.
With Cowell shipping today and Sycamore on the horizon, xMEMS is delivering a solid-state audio roadmap purpose-built for AI glasses. xMEMS invites AR/VR, AI, and wearable device makers worldwide to collaborate in shaping the future of spatial audio and hearables with MEMS speaker innovation.
For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.