Apple Inc. is reportedly aiming to release smart glasses at the end of next year as part of a push into AI-enhanced gadgets.
According to Bloomberg, Apple’s glasses would have cameras, microphones, and speakers, allowing them to analyze the external world and take requests via the Siri voice assistant. They could also handle tasks such as phone calls, music playback, live translations and turn-by-turn directions.
Meanwhile, Apple is working on a chip for these potential smart glasses that could compete with Meta’s Ray-Ban. The chip is based on the chips used for the Apple Watch, but has been designed to handle multiple cameras. Apple plans to start mass production of the chip by the end of 2026 or 2027, with the glasses expected to be released within that timeframe.
Apple is also working on augmented reality glasses similar to Meta’s Orion glasses, which are expected to launch in 2027. Apple is also developing chips for camera-equipped Apple Watch and AirPods, with the goal of being ready by around 2027. The company is also developing new M-series chips and dedicated AI server chips.
Apple’s product will resemble Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, “but better made,” a source tells Bloomberg. Over a million pairs of Ray-Ban smart glasses were sold by Meta last year, and Google just revealed that it is collaborating with Xreal, Warby Parker, Samsung, and Gentle Monster to develop AI smart glasses for its Android XR platform.
In an industry where it faces new competition, the iPhone manufacturer hopes to get into the growing trend of AI-powered gadgets. In order to launch hardware devices beginning next year, OpenAI announced that it was collaborating with former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive.
According to sources, the company has put aside plans for a smartwatch that can use a built-in camera to monitor its surroundings while engineers ramp up development on the glasses, a competitor to Meta Platforms Inc.’s well-known Ray-Bans, in an effort to make the year-end 2026 target.
According to Bloomberg, Apple will start producing large quantities of prototypes at the end of this year with overseas suppliers.
