Apple is testing four smart glasses designs to compete with Meta, report says
Many Silicon Valley heavy hitters are investing heavily in smart glasses, and a new report sheds light on Apple's plans to join the party.
The latest report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that Apple is currently testing four different designs for smart glasses, which would compete with the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses. Gurman says the product could be unveiled in late 2026 ahead of a 2027 launch.
A lot could change in that time, though Gurman has a very impressive track record of Apple scoops.
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The Bloomberg report states that Apple is testing a variety of frame styles, such as rectangular, oval, and circular, as well as multiple color options. Some or all of these designs could be available upon launch if Apple smart glasses do come to market.
In addition, the glasses would feature unique oval camera lenses, oriented vertically, with lights, according to Bloomberg. Finally, onboard speakers would allow users to take phone calls and listen to music, similar to other AR glasses from companies like Xreal and TCL.
Based on previous reports, Apple will be making augmented reality glasses with a built-in display, similar to Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses and the unreleased Google Android XR glasses expected to be released later this year.
Presumably, by the time Apple smart glasses are released, Apple will have also introduced the long-awaited Siri AI upgrade. That could allow users to talk to Siri while wearing the glasses for voice control, help with navigation, or activate other AR features.
Meta-Ray Ban smart glasses sales tripled in 2025, per Reuters, but smart glasses have not yet gone mainstream the way smartphones, tablets, or laptops have.
Big Tech companies see this new form factor as a major potential opportunity (see also: AI wearables), but it's not yet clear how eager the average consumer will be to incorporate smart glasses into their daily life.
Apple may be better suited to introduce a new form factor than other companies based on its previous success with smartphones and MP3 players; however, the company's previous AR device, the Apple Vision Pro, has seen very lackluster sales.
Topics Apple Artificial Intelligence Gadgets
Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men's product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.
Tim studied print journalism at the University of Southern California. He currently splits his time between Brooklyn, NY and Charleston, SC. He's currently working on his second novel, a science-fiction book.
