Report says Apple is testing four designs for smart glasses

In short: A new report says Apple is testing four different frame designs for smart glasses that it may start selling in 2027.

What happened

TechCrunch reports that Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman says Apple plans to sell its first smart glasses in 2027. The report also says Apple could show them off as early as the end of this year.

Gurman says Apple is currently testing four frame designs. These include two rectangular options, one larger and one slimmer, plus two oval or circular options, one larger and one smaller. Apple is also considering several colors, including black, ocean blue, and light brown.

The report suggests these glasses would be closer to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses than to bigger headsets like Apple’s Vision Pro. That means they would not have a display, or a built-in screen, in front of your eyes. Instead, they would focus on features like taking photos and videos, answering phone calls, playing music, and using an upgraded Siri (Apple’s voice assistant, like a hands-free helper).

Why it matters

Smart glasses could make some everyday phone tasks easier without pulling out a phone, like wearing a small remote control on your face (and a camera). At the same time, cameras on glasses often raise privacy questions, because people nearby may not know when they are being recorded. If Apple moves forward, the details that matter most will be the final features, how obvious the cameras are, and when the product is actually announced.

Source: TechCrunch AI