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| image: Bloomberg Technology |
Flashspoter - Apple is reportedly testing four different designs for its new smart glasses, marking a serious step forward for the company in its wearable competition. According to a report from Bloomberg, the models include a large rectangular frame similar to The Ray-Ban Wayfarer, a slim rectangular design like the glasses that CEO Tim Cook used to wear, as well as oval and circle variants in large and small sizes. The colors tested include black, navy blue and light brown. The move shows Apple doesn't want to lag behind Meta, which has had success with the second-generation Ray-Ban Meta.
The device, codenamed N50, is designed to compete directly with Meta products, but with the advantage of a more integrated Apple ecosystem. Apple's Smart glasses are claimed to sync with the iPhone more seamlessly, allowing users to edit photos, receive notifications, make calls, and access the improved Siri voice assistant. The launch of this device is even expected to coincide with the arrival of iOS 27 which brings a major update to Siri. In terms of design, Apple is rumored to carry a vertical oval lens with lights around it as the main differentiator from competitors.
From a technical perspective, analysts predict Apple will bring a full-color display to its smart glasses, following in the footsteps of Meta Ray-Ban displays that already use a full-color waveguide system. This capability matters most since the majority of the smart glasses nowadays still depend on a very simple limited green monochrome display capable of showing just plain text and basic graphics. It is further expected that Apple is going to introduce a stand-alone app store named glassesOS wherein third-party developers will be able to develop applications just like the other Apple platforms macOS, iOS, and watchOS. This step will transform smart glasses from just an accessory to a standalone ecosystem.
The main pluses that Apple can present are water resistance with the IP65 standard, eSIM for standalone connectivity without an iPhone, as well as control via Apple Watch. Users can utilize the Apple Watch's touchscreen as a touchpad to navigate the glasses ' interface, plus gestures like double-tap or flick that the smartwatch already supports. In fact, it is possible for Apple to bring eye and hand tracking as in the Vision Pro, although this technology is still difficult to reduce the size to fit in the frame of ordinary glasses.
Interestingly, two top Apple executives, Greg Joswiak and John Ternus, in an interview with Tom's Guide hinted that the merger of the digital and physical worlds is an inevitability. Joswiak mentioned "inevitability" when asked about the future of spatial computing, although he did not want to give an exact timetable. This comment comes just a few days after a Bloomberg report on testing four models of smart glasses, reinforcing speculation that Apple is really serious about entering this market. Joswiak and Ternus indicated that Apple has no plans to merge iPadOS and macOS, and hence, smart glasses would be an entirely different product rather than a mere extension of an existing device.
Regarding the launch time, it is reported by Bloomberg that Apple may unveil the smart glasses at the end of 2026 or early 2027 and the formal launch will be scheduled for the same year. If realized, Apple will enter the market that has been enlivened by Meta, XReal, and Even Realities. However, the advantages of the ecosystem, diverse design, and potential integration with Apple Watch could be the main differentiators. Meanwhile, some observers hope that Apple does not embed a visual camera due to privacy concerns, as Even Realities did on the G2. Instead, the camera should only be used for eye and hand tracking to remain functionally capable without sacrificing comfort and ethics.
In conclusion, Apple is not only catching up but also trying to redefine the smart glasses category with an ecosystem approach and design variations. The presence of four models at once indicates an aggressive Market segmentation strategy, similar to the approach of the Apple Watch, which comes in different sizes and materials. If Apple manages to deliver a color display, App Store and control via Apple Watch, it is not impossible that smart glasses will be the next product that changes consumer behavior as the iPhone did in 2007. Consumers and investors are now left to wait whether Apple can really realize the vision of "merging the digital and physical worlds" in the form of smart glasses that are comfortable to wear every day.
Source: Bloomberg via Engadget, PCMag Australia, TechRadar