CUPERTINO, California, April 15, 2026, 09:10 PDT.
Apple is testing at least four frame styles for its first smart glasses and could unveil the device late in 2026 before a commercial launch in 2027, according to reports published since April 12 that cited Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Reuters reported last May, citing Bloomberg, that Apple planned to release smart glasses at the end of 2026.
The move comes after Vision Pro drew a lukewarm reception, and the latest reports point to a lighter, display-free form factor instead of another bulky headset. It also lands as Meta, Google and Snap push harder into AI glasses, turning smart eyewear into a more crowded corner of consumer hardware.
The designs under test include a large rectangular frame, a slimmer rectangular version similar to the glasses worn by Chief Executive Tim Cook, and two oval or circular options, one larger and one smaller. Apple is also exploring black, ocean blue and light brown finishes, with frames made from acetate, a premium eyewear plastic that Macworld said is more durable than standard plastic.
The glasses are expected to use vertically oriented oval cameras with surrounding lights, a look meant to make them instantly recognizable. They are not expected to include a display or augmented-reality graphics, which overlay digital images on the world in front of the wearer, but would handle photos, videos, phone calls, music, notifications and Siri-driven assistance.
Macworld said Apple is designing the frames in-house rather than relying on an eyewear partner. That would put it on a different path from Meta, which develops its Ray-Ban smart glasses with EssilorLuxottica.
Apple would be entering a market Meta currently leads. Reuters reported on March 31 that Meta launched two $499 Ray-Ban prescription smart glasses and that IDC research director Ramon Llamas said Meta accounted for about 76.1% of global smart-glasses shipments last year. Google is working with Warby Parker on AI glasses for 2026, and Snap’s Specs unit said on April 10 that its consumer devices will use Qualcomm chips and launch later this year.
The commercial logic is plain. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in January that “billions of people wear glasses or contacts for vision correction,” while IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo said in a January Reuters report that “Success will depend less on breakthrough hardware innovation, but more on ecosystem integration and software value.” That line of thinking matches the Apple approach described in recent reports, which centers on Siri, calls, music and iPhone-linked features rather than a full visual display. Reuters
But the category still has problems Apple cannot design away. In a Reuters holiday-season report last year, Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart said of mass-market adoption, “We’re not quite there,” citing concerns about price, comfort and privacy; on April 13, an ACLU-led coalition of 75 groups said facial recognition in smart eyewear would be “a red line society must not cross.” Reuters
Reuters reported last May that Apple was developing specialized low-power chips for smart glasses, based on Apple Watch-class silicon and tuned for power efficiency and multiple cameras. The new design details show Apple is still refining the look and feature set before any formal unveiling.
