To rival Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, Apple plans to launch its own rendition of smart glasses as soon as next year. Note that next year's glasses would be smart but not in line with the functionality of the Vision Pro. The company is working on miniaturizing the technology for a future iteration of AR glasses, but the forthcoming smart glasses would be completely different.
Apple plans to launch smart glasses in 2026 with better build quality and advanced AI features to rival Meta's Ray-Bans
Bloomberg reports that Apple is planning to launch its smart glasses in the second half of next year, potentially in the last quarter, which will be similar to Meta's Ray-Bans and the recently showcased Android XR glasses. Apple's renditions will house camera sensors, microphones, and AI capabilities, which are pretty similar to what Meta offers with its smart glasses. The smart glasses will be able to take pictures and record video, and the company is also working on extensive privacy-related features that will allow individuals to know that the smart glasses are recording.
Other than the standard photo and video shooting capabilities, the Apple smart glasses would also be able to show turn-by-turn directions, provide translations, play music, and offer voice call functionality. Moreover, it will also have the ability to give feedback on what the user is seeing through the glasses, which could be a great Accessibility feature for those with visual impairment. The wearable will also allow users to ask questions and get answers related to their surroundings.
As mentioned, Apple's smart glasses will not have augmented reality capabilities, as they are reserved for another day. Siri will be a key aspect of the smart glasses experience, and the company is working to greatly improve its digital assistant before the wearable sees daylight.
Apple has ramped up its smart glasses development as it badly wants to beat the competition. We have previously reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook is hell-bent on releasing smart glasses to rival the likes of the Meta Ray-Bans. Moreover, the company is also quite optimistic about the demand for the wearable, as it plans to manufacture "large quantities" of the prototype by the end of the year, giving it more time to prepare for mass production next year.
According to Bloomberg, an Apple employee stated that Apple's smart glasses are similar to Meta glasses "but better made." Apple will extensively use its AI models instead of sourcing from the industry. As mentioned, the true AR glasses will be released several years from now, which will give users a truly immersive user experience. Before that, the company wants components like batteries and chips to decrease in price.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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