Apple is actively testing four different designs for its first-ever smart glasses, with a potential unveiling later this year and sales starting in 2027. TechCrunch AI reports the details come from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has been tracking Apple’s smart glasses strategy for months.
The four designs reportedly include:
- A large rectangular frame
- A slimmer rectangular frame (similar to what CEO Tim Cook wears)
- A larger oval or circular frame
- A smaller oval or circular frame
Apple could launch with some or all of these options, and is also exploring color variations including black, ocean blue, and light brown.
🔍 What These Glasses Won’t Do
Here’s what stands out: these won’t be augmented reality glasses. No displays. Apple is going for something much closer to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. Users will be able to take photos and videos (with oval camera lenses), answer phone calls, play music, and interact with Siri.
This is a significant strategic pivot. Apple once had ambitious plans for a full lineup of mixed and augmented reality devices. That vision already hit turbulence with product delays and the lukewarm reception of the Vision Pro headset, which launched at $3,499 and struggled to find a mainstream audience.
📊 Why This Matters
Apple is essentially acknowledging what Meta figured out first: most people don’t want a computer strapped to their face. They want lightweight glasses that do a few things well. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have been a surprise hit precisely because they kept it simple.
The AI angle is important too. Apple is reportedly tying these glasses to its long-promised Siri upgrade. If Apple delivers a genuinely improved AI assistant that works seamlessly through smart glasses, it could finally give Siri a compelling use case after years of falling behind Google Assistant and ChatGPT-powered competitors.
Four design options also signal Apple is thinking about smart glasses as a fashion product, not just a tech gadget. Offering different frame shapes and colors is the kind of approach you’d expect from an eyewear company, not a traditional tech launch.
⏳ What Comes Next
A potential unveiling later this year means Apple could show these off at WWDC in June or a fall event. The 2027 sales timeline gives Apple roughly a year after announcement to build hype and refine the product.
The real question is pricing. Meta sells its Ray-Ban glasses starting at $299. Apple’s track record suggests a premium, but going too high risks repeating the Vision Pro’s accessibility problem.
This is Apple playing catch-up in a category Meta currently owns. But Apple has a track record of entering markets late and winning through polish and ecosystem integration. Smart glasses could follow the same playbook, if the execution is right.
More details are available in the original TechCrunch AI report.