Apple’s smart glasses could arrive by late 2026 as multiple designs under testing
The long-anticipated Apple smart glasses may finally see the light of day. Renowned journalist Mark Gurman, who has been pretty spot on with his leaks, has posted a new update on the smart wearable in his Bloomberg report. He claims the device is actively being tested internally with multiple design languages and colour options. The Apple smart glasses launch will reportedly happen by the end of this year, or “early the following year”.
According to the report, Apple’s smart glasses may debut with a large rectangular frame, similar to the Ray-Ban Wayfarer. The Cupertino-based company is also exploring other design directions, including a slimmer rectangular style often worn by CEO Tim Cook. Additionally, there are smaller, more refined oval or circular options, as well as larger circular frames under consideration.
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As with AirPods and the Apple Watch, the goal is to create a design that is instantly recognisable, added Gurman. It’s allegedly being referred to as the “icon” internally. Furthermore, it’s said that instead of generic plastic, the Apple smart glasses are being developed with a high-end material called acetate, which will not only be durable but also luxurious and premium.
It remains to be seen whether Apple will settle on a single design or offer multiple choices. However, reports suggest the frames could arrive in multiple colour options, including brown, ocean blue, and black. To set itself apart from its closest competitor, Meta, Apple may also incorporate vertically oriented, oval-shaped cameras for capturing photos and recording videos.
The glasses will be tightly integrated into the Apple ecosystem, which will give it an advantage over the early movers in the market, such as Meta and Google. The in-house chips, giant retail presence, and deep iPhone integration could work in favour of the Apple smart glasses. Gurman believes that …if executed properly “with a functional Siri, the glasses could follow a trajectory similar to the Apple Watch: not first to market, but ultimately dominant.”
The glasses are expected to be positioned as a smart wearable that complements the iPhone, rather than as full-fledged augmented reality devices. The latter are still likely several years away, potentially close to a decade, until the technology matures enough to fit into a lightweight form factor with practical battery life. Apple has yet to comment on these developments, so the information should be treated with a degree of caution.
