A shadow market for smart glasses used in exams is emerging in China

An unusual trend is rapidly gaining traction in China: students are increasingly renting smart glasses to receive hints during exams. According to Gizmodo, citing Rest of the World, these devices allow users to discreetly access answers in real time.

Devices from Meta and Rokid are commonly used, as they can interact with intelligent systems and display prompts directly within the user’s field of vision.

From personal use to small-scale business

The growing demand has led to the rise of small rental services. Some students have even turned this into a side business by renting out devices to others.

Entrepreneurs have also entered the market, purchasing devices — including those from Alibaba — and offering them for short-term rental during exam periods.

The cost of “assistance”

On Chinese social media, these gadgets are promoted as tools for solving tasks in subjects like English and mathematics. Rental prices remain relatively low, ranging from $6 to $12 per day depending on the model.

Bans are hard to enforce

Although the use of such devices is officially prohibited during exams, enforcing the rules remains difficult. Students claim that in many cases they can bypass inspections.

One key issue is detection: many smart glasses look nearly identical to regular eyewear. Some models lack visible cameras, while information is displayed through tiny built-in lens screens that are hard to notice.

Efforts to counter the trend

Researchers at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology are already developing tools to help educators identify such devices. However, their effectiveness is still uncertain.

The issue is not limited to China. In the United States, smart glasses are also banned during exams and certain official procedures, yet detecting them remains challenging due to the variety of models and lack of standardized inspection methods.