Apple’s smart glasses are reportedly designed with a focus on aesthetics, and may come in four styles, aiming to compete with Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, in a recent Power On column, discussed Apple’s active testing of its smart glasses project, revealing at least four designs. Apple hopes to leverage its consistently excellent design sense to stand out from competitors like Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
The report indicates that Apple is evaluating new smart glasses designs and plans to launch multiple styles and colors, similar to the strategy of offering diverse options when the Apple Watch was first launched in 2015.
Notably, these smart glasses are not AR glasses with a built-in display. Instead, they feature lenses, microphones, and sensors, enabling them to receive phone notifications, take photos and videos, play music, and interact with AI features such as an upgraded Siri and visual intelligence.
These smart glasses are somewhat like a combination of the Apple Watch and AirPods. They pair with an iPhone, and most functions rely on the phone for operation. Therefore, in terms of product positioning, they are even more like an iPhone accessory than the Apple Watch. Mark Gurman mentioned that the four models currently being tested include:
A larger rectangular frame, similar to the Ray-Ban Wayfarer.
A slimmer rectangular frame design, reminiscent of the glasses typically worn by Apple CEO Tim Cook.
A larger oval or round frame.
A smaller, more refined oval or round frame.
Apple is also exploring various color options, including black, ocean blue, and light brown, similar to its approach with the Apple Watch and AirPods, aiming to create a instantly recognizable design. Apple plans to use acetate, a “durable and textured” material, for the frames, rather than the more common plastic.
A noteworthy detail is the lens; the front of the glasses will feature vertically arranged elliptical lenses with indicator lights, a design feature that differentiates Apple products from competitors.
This smart glasses project is expected to be announced as early as later this year or early 2027, with a formal launch in the spring or summer of 2027. Apple is still developing advanced AR glasses with display capabilities, but the product timeline is clearly quite long.
In the short term, these smart glasses are part of Apple’s strategy to launch a series of AI-driven products over the next few years. Other planned products include AirPods with cameras, smart home displays, and wearable pendants with built-in cameras.
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