Cupertino, California, April 13, 2026, 04:09 PDT.
Apple is evaluating four different frame designs for its debut smart glasses, aiming to roll out a more lightweight wearable as it sets its sights on Meta’s Ray-Ban lineup, according to Bloomberg on Sunday. The company could announce the new device as soon as late 2026 or in early 2027, the report said. Sales are reportedly targeted for 2027.
Timing is key as the smart-glasses slice of the AI hardware market starts to heat up. Just last month, Meta rolled out two $499 Ray-Ban prescription models. IDC’s Ramon Llamas put global shipments at 9.6 million units for 2025, on track to hit 13.4 million by 2026. Meta accounted for 76.1% of the market last year, according to IDC.
Apple’s move isn’t just tactical. Last year, Reuters noted the tech giant began pivoting to smart glasses after its Vision Pro headset failed to wow. In March, Reuters also reported Apple is preparing to roll out an upgraded Siri sometime this year.
Testing covers several frame shapes—a big rectangular one, a thinner rectangle, and a couple of rounder designs, reports citing Bloomberg have said. As for finishes, black, ocean blue, and light brown are all in play. The camera, reportedly, features vertically stacked oval lenses with indicator lights.
The earliest model skips a display entirely, leaving out a screen on the lenses. Cameras, mics, and speakers handle core functions: snapping photos and video, phone calls, music playback, and hands-free Siri—Apple’s voice assistant—along with AI features powered by the camera.
According to Bloomberg, the glasses are part of a broader Apple wearables strategy, roping in camera-enabled AirPods and a pendant-type gadget. Apple appears to favor a premium acetate frame this round, aiming for a distinct design that stands out instantly.
Apple is stepping into a space where Meta has already made headway, moving smart eyewear closer to the mainstream. Zuckerberg last year described glasses as the “ideal form factor” for personal superintelligence. Forrester’s Mike Proulx, speaking to Reuters, pointed to the appeal of a “non-cumbersome form factor”—but he noted that buyers still need a clear reason to pay up. Reuters
Snap isn’t slowing down either. On April 10, Reuters said the company’s Specs unit plans to roll out smart glasses using Qualcomm chips before the year’s out. CEO Evan Spiegel, in the joint statement, called the future of computing “more human and grounded in the real world.” Reuters
The obstacles are plain enough. Back in March 2025, Apple announced that certain Siri AI improvements wouldn’t arrive before 2026. On March 31, Reuters noted the company is still running tests on a Siri function designed to process several requests at once; any additional delay could sting, given Bloomberg says the debut model will rely on voice and AI instead of a traditional screen. Over at Meta, analysts had low expectations for the $799 Display glasses’ sales.
If Bloomberg’s timeline proves accurate, Apple won’t hit the market until after Snap’s 2026 Specs debut, and Meta will keep stretching its advantage in the meantime. There’s a closer milestone just ahead: June 8, when Reuters says Apple is likely to unveil an overhauled Siri during WWDC.
