Photo credit: iDropNews | Martin Hajek
Apple’s dipping its toes into smartglasses, and it feels like a natural next step for a company that’s been flirting with augmented reality for years. A new report spills the beans: Apple’s prepping to launch smart glasses by late 2026, and the tech world’s already buzzing with anticipation.
These aren’t the full-blown AR spectacles of sci-fi dreams but a practical, AI-driven competitor to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, packed with cameras, microphones, and Siri smarts. This move signals Apple’s intent to carve out a slice of the wearable AI market, and the details paint a picture of a device that’s as much about utility as it is about setting the stage for future innovation.
Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, Wayfarer, Matte Black/Polarized Gradient Graphite, Large
- Move effortlessly through life with Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Capture photos and videos, listen to music, make hands-free calls or ask Meta AI* questions...
- Take on life with AI* that helps you flow through your day. When activated, Meta AI can analyze your surroundings and provide context-rich suggestions
- With live translation, you can hear translations in real-time between French, Italian, Spanish and English, no wifi needed
Development has reportedly accelerated, with Apple planning to produce “large quantities” of prototypes by the end of 2025 for rigorous testing before mass production. The glasses will lean heavily on Apple’s own AI models, sidestepping the Meta Llama and Google Gemini tech that powers Meta’s Ray-Bans. “Apple’s smart glasses are expected to include cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities, much like the Meta Ray-Bans,” notes Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, emphasizing the competitive angle. “The glasses will be able to take photos, record video, provide translations, give turn-by-turn directions, play music, facilitate phone calls, offer feedback on what the wearer is seeing, and answer queries.”
Unlike the ambitious but pricey Apple Vision Pro, these glasses won’t dive into augmented reality just yet. These glasses won’t dazzle with in-lens displays or full-on AR immersion—Apple’s playing it practical. The long game is still featherlight AR glasses, but tiny chips, battery constraints, and steep costs mean that’s a ways off. For now, the 2026 glasses are a slick middle ground, mixing Apple’s design finesse with AI-powered smarts to take on Meta’s Ray-Ban collab. “An Apple employee said that the glasses are similar to Meta’s glasses, ‘but better made,’” MacRumors reports.
Prototypes are already in the works, with production scaling up to test durability, comfort, and performance. Apple’s partnership with Zeiss, seen in the Vision Pro, could influence the glasses’ optics, though details remain sparse. The look? Most likely similar to the Ray-Bans, but with that unmistakable Apple polish. They’ll sync seamlessly with your iPhone, making them a no-brainer for Apple fans who live in the ecosystem.
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