Apple Smart Glasses: 4 Designs in Testing

Industry sources indicate Apple is actively developing its first generation of smart glasses, with a potential market launch targeted for 2027. A public unveiling could occur as early as the end of this year, according to a recent report. This timeline follows years of strategic evolution for the project, which has reportedly moved away from more complex augmented reality concepts toward a simpler, wearable audio device.

The latest information suggests Apple is currently evaluating four distinct frame designs for the product. These prototypes include a large rectangular style, a slimmer rectangular version similar to frames often worn by CEO Tim Cook, a larger oval or circular shape, and a smaller variant of that rounded design. The company is also experimenting with color options, with black, ocean blue, and light brown under consideration. A final product could launch with one, several, or all of these styles.

This approach represents a notable shift from Apple’s earlier, more ambitious roadmap for mixed reality hardware. Previous plans envisioned a full suite of AR and VR devices, a strategy that encountered significant delays and faced a muted market response with the Vision Pro headset. The new smart glasses project appears to be a recalibration, focusing on a more accessible form factor with core functionality.

The described device aligns more closely with existing products like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. These Apple glasses are not expected to feature integrated displays. Instead, their primary functions will reportedly include capturing photos and videos through specially designed oval camera lenses, handling phone calls, streaming music, and interacting with a significantly upgraded version of Siri. This focus on audio and basic capture suggests a product designed for all-day wearability rather than immersive digital experiences.