Cupertino, California, April 13, 2026, 04:09 PDT.
Apple is testing four frame styles for its first smart glasses as it lines up a lighter wearable to challenge Meta’s Ray-Ban devices, Bloomberg reported on Sunday. The report said Apple could unveil the product in late 2026 or early 2027, with sales targeted for 2027.
The timing matters because smart glasses are becoming a more active corner of the AI hardware market. Meta last month launched two $499 prescription Ray-Ban models, and IDC research director Ramon Llamas said global smart-glasses shipments reached 9.6 million units in 2025 and are expected to rise to 13.4 million in 2026, with Meta holding 76.1% of last year’s market.
For Apple, the shift is also strategic. Reuters reported last year that the company was moving toward smart glasses after the Vision Pro headset drew a lukewarm response, and Reuters said in March that Apple is readying a revamped Siri for release this year.
The frames in testing range from a large rectangular style and a slimmer rectangle to two rounder options, according to reports citing Bloomberg. Possible finishes include black, ocean blue and light brown, and the camera module is said to use vertically oriented oval lenses with indicator lights.
The first version would be display-less — no screen built into the lenses. Instead, the device would use cameras, microphones and speakers to capture photos and video, take calls, play music and run hands-free Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, plus camera-based AI features.
Bloomberg also linked the glasses to a wider Apple wearables push that includes camera-equipped AirPods and a pendant-style device. It said Apple is leaning toward a higher-end acetate frame and a look that can be identified at a glance.
Apple would be entering a market Meta has already pushed deeper into mainstream eyewear. Zuckerberg last year called glasses the “ideal form factor” for personal superintelligence, while Forrester analyst Mike Proulx told Reuters their appeal lies in the “non-cumbersome form factor,” though buyers still need to see enough benefit to justify the price. Reuters
Snap is pressing ahead too. Reuters reported on April 10 that Snap’s Specs unit will launch smart glasses later this year using Qualcomm chips, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said in a joint statement that the future of computing will be “more human and grounded in the real world.” Reuters
But the hurdles are obvious. Apple said in March 2025 that some Siri AI upgrades would be delayed until 2026, and Reuters reported on March 31 that it is still testing a Siri feature that can handle multiple requests in one query; a further slip would matter because Bloomberg’s reported first model is set to lean heavily on voice and AI rather than a built-in display. Even at Meta, analysts did not expect the $799 Display glasses to post strong sales.
If Bloomberg’s timetable holds, Apple would arrive after Snap’s planned 2026 Specs launch and after Meta has had more time to build on its lead. A nearer checkpoint comes on June 8, when Reuters has reported Apple is expected to show a revamped Siri at WWDC.
