The long-rumored Apple Glass smart glasses are expected to officially launch between late 2026 and early 2027. However, the initial products are designed to be basic models, lacking augmented reality (AR) capabilities, and will aim to rival the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, Apple plans to enter the smart glasses market within the next 12 to 16 months, with their debut potentially showcased at a launch event as early as fall 2026.
According to reports from Gurman, the first version of Apple Glass won’t come with a display. Its core features will include the ability to record videos using its built-in camera, playback audio, and capture recordings, all while needing to connect to an iPhone for data processing. This smart eyewear is expected to support functionalities like taking photos, recording videos, translation, navigation alerts, playing music, and making calls, although it won’t yet incorporate augmented reality technology. Smart glasses with true information projection on the lens, such as full functionality, will require a longer development time due to the miniaturization of components and the overall lightweight design.
Apple aims to create a pair of glasses that’s as lightweight as possible, with a vision that sharply contrasts with heavier wearables like the Apple Vision Pro. Gurman noted that Apple has a strong brand advantage in the smart glasses arena, and the vast existing base of iPhone users will help Apple Glass capture a significant market share. The deep integration of Apple hardware within its own ecosystem offers a user experience that’s tough for competitors to rival, especially regarding interaction with the iPhone, as Apple Glass will achieve a highly seamless connection. Reports also suggest that Apple employees claim the production quality of these glasses surpasses that of Meta’s products.
In addition to the Apple Glass, Apple is currently developing AirPods with built-in cameras. These headphones will utilize infrared sensing technology to recognize the surrounding environment and work in tandem with the iPhone and Apple Intelligence AI system to enable computer vision capabilities. At WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled the new AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 2, all featuring camera remote functionality, allowing users to take photos or control video recording by pressing the stems of the AirPods. If the camera-equipped AirPods can work in conjunction with smart glasses, it will provide Apple’s AI system with multi-view data support, further enhancing its functionality.
Apple is fully committed to advancing its smart glasses initiative, aiming to surpass Meta and establish itself as the leader in this field. Reports indicate that the internal code name for the smart glasses project has been changed from N50 to N401, marking it as one of CEO Tim Cook’s top product priorities. Apple plans to produce a substantial number of prototypes by the end of the year for testing purposes prior to mass production and public release. Additionally, the company is expected to offer a range of materials and frame options, making this product a stylish accessory akin to the Apple Watch, allowing consumers to select their favorite colors and design styles.
