Apple's AI-Powered Smart Glasses: A Race Against Meta in Wearable Tech

Apple Reportedly Serious About AI Smart Glasses: Can Apple Intelligence Deliver?

Apple Intelligence will be a significant part of the device, and "will analyze the surrounding environment and feed information to the wearer," Gurman says. The device is still in early development, and Apple has not confirmed anything. We've heard rumors about Apple smart glasses for years, but Apple is reportedly seriously interested in AI-powered wearables across the board. It's also looking to add cameras to AirPods and Apple Watches in a push for so-called "Visual Intelligence." These devices could "see" what the wearer sees, and an upgraded Siri voice assistant could answer questions about it. It could translate a sign or ask ChatGPT about a landmark in the park, for example. Apple is connecting wearable devices and voice assistants by giving Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell ownership over the development of the AI-enhanced Siri. Reports indicate he may be working on a pared-down and lightweight version of the Vision Pro with a smaller price tag, which could have more mass-market appeal than the Vision Pro. The big question is whether Apple Intelligence can deliver. The AI platform has been embroiled in false advertising lawsuits, and hasn't been an instant hit with consumers on the iPhone 16. Will putting it in glasses make a difference?

Apple smart glasses are getting closer to becoming a reality, per report - 9to5Mac

According to the latest edition of Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, Apple is continuing to develop its own pair of smart glasses. The product, now codenamed N50, is going to infuse some of the companies AI developments into a pair of glasses that hopefully won't break the bank. It's no secret that Apple's true end goal is to develop industry-leading augmented reality glasses. However, we're at least a few years from that being feasible for a consumer product. In the meanwhile, Apple wants to create its own pair of smart glasses, similar to Meta's glasses collaboration with Ray-Ban. Meta Ray-Bans have become fairly popular, and infuse all sorts of tech into a not-too-bulky pair of glasses, including cameras, microphones, an AI assistant, and speakers for listening to audio. Apple wants to follow a very similar approach, per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman: This device isn't close to being ready yet, but the idea is to turn glasses into an Apple Intelligence device. The product will analyze the surrounding environment and feed information to the wearer, though it will stop well short of true augmented reality. In the past, Gurman has mentioned that Apple may not want to allow the glasses to take photos due to privacy concerns, though that's still undecided. Gurman also once again mentioned that Apple is continuing to work on AirPods with cameras, which'll also push its Visual Intelligence tech into new hardware. Both of these products will likely launch around 2027, according to previous reporting. What do you think about Apple developing a pair of smart glasses? Let us know in the comments.

Apple smart glasses -- report reveals new details as Meta races ahead

They'll use Apple Intelligence to analyze and feed info to the wearer So far 2025 has been a huge year for Apple products, with the company already rolling out the upgraded M3 iPad Air and the iPhone 16e. But the iPhone maker's reportedly racing to get a new exciting product onto store shelves: its long-rumored AI-powered smart glasses. According to Mark Gurman's latest PowerOn newsletter, the product, now codenamed N50, will integrate some of the best Apple Intelligence features into a svelte new form factor. Hopefully, with a price tag that's easier to stomach than that of the Apple Vision Pro, lest history repeat itself. "This device isn't close to being ready yet, but the idea is to turn glasses into an Apple Intelligence device," Gurman said. "The product will analyze the surrounding environment and feed information to the wearer, though it will stop well short of true augmented reality." In the past, the rumor mill has gone back and forth on whether or not Apple is even working on smart glasses, but Gurman now says Apple's going full speed ahead with the project. It's part of a larger push to bring more smart wearables to its catalogue, including smart glasses and a pair of camera-equipped AirPods, which Gurman mentioned once again in this week's newsletter. Ostensibly, Apple's smartglasses would work similarly to the Ray-Ban smart glasses from Meta, which can access Meta AI on the go and pack all kinds of handy tech like a camera, microphone, and speakers into a pair of glasses that are surprisingly thin and comfortable. Apple's aiming to take a similar approach, though there's still a lot that remains under wraps. Its smartglasses are still early in development, and we have a while to wait before any kind of official announcement. Gurman previously suggested Apple was targeting 2027 to debut both its smart glasses and AirPods with cameras. He didn't reiterate that launch window on Sunday, and given all the tariff woes that Apple's been juggling, delays are all but expected.

Meta's display-toting AI smart glasses could spoil Apple's party in 2025

Meta has tasted quite some unprecedented success with its camera-equipped smart glasses made in collaboration with Ray-Ban. They started off with social media capture as their key trick, but have now evolved into a vehicle for AI features. Now, Meta is reportedly eyeing next-gen smart glasses that add a display unit into the mix. Interestingly, they could arrive in the same window that is usually reserved for the launch of new iPhones and other Apple gear in the Fall season. Apple's smart glasses project, on the other hand, is reportedly a few years behind the competition. Recommended Videos "Meta Platforms Inc. has a major product priority for 2025: an October launch of high-end, $1,000-plus smart glasses that include a small display," says a Bloomberg report. They could run into a slight delay, but Meta's employees have reportedly been told to race against time, even if that involves working on weekends. The purported October launch target roughly aligns with the time frame for Meta's annual Connect event. The company's flagship hardware event is set for September 17-18 in 2025. Apple also unveils its next-gen iPhones in the same month, but this year, we could be in for a headset surprise, as well. What's next for Meta's smart glasses? So far, Meta hasn't tried smart glasses with a display unit, but the idea has been executed for years by labels such as Viture, TCL, RayNeo, and Xreal, among others. The biggest advantage is that instead of relying solely on voice/audio inputs, users can visually interact with content on a small display unit fitted behind the front lens. Notably, the Meta smart glasses will come with a single display unit, instead of separate OLED panels for each eye. "Unlike Meta's current spectacles, this model will let wearers use simple on-screen apps and review photos that they've taken with the device," adds the Bloomberg report. The monocular screen is said to be fitted in the lower right corner of the lens, targeting visual interactions only through the right eye. Hand gestures on side arms will enable navigation, while display functionalities include map navigation, handling app notifications, viewing pictures clicked by the onboard cameras, and more. On the software side, Meta's upcoming smart glasses are said to run a heavily customized version of Android, while silicon firepower will be provided by a Qualcomm wearable processor. Currently in development under the codename Hypernova, the next-gen Meta AI smart glasses could start at $1,000, but the asking price might climb all the way up to $1,400. For comparison, the typical ask for display-equipped XR glasses currently hovers around the $500 mark. Meta is also working on the Orion smart glasses with a built-in holographic display system. The company has already showcased them in detail, but they are still a few years in the future. On the research side, the company continues to develop true AR glasses aboard the Aria platform, targeted at scientific and industrial applications.

Apple's smart glasses are coming -- but you'll have to wait a while

Apple may not have had a huge success with its Vision Pro VR headset, but it's still planning on something big for smart glasses. There were concerns earlier in the year that the AR glasses Apple was working on would be scrapped, but that is not the case. The Apple smart glasses, code-named N50, are still a work in progress, according to a report from Bloomberg. These glasses, however, reportedly won't be ready for the public for quite some time. These Apple smart glasses won't just be for experiencing augmented reality. The company reportedly plans on having the smart glasses function with Apple Intelligence. Although Apple Intelligence has yet to be the great feature the company hyped it up to be when it was revealed last year, Apple still intends for it to play a big part in the future of its devices. The company is currently developing a new pair of AirPods with cameras integrated into them, which would take in data from the surrounding areas and feed that into Apple Intelligence. Still, Apple did a recent internal shuffle with its team in order to get its next big AI feature up and running. That would be the overhauled Siri, which would act like a fully functional AI assistant. The smart glasses market is currently dominated by Meta. More than two million Ray-Ban smart glasses have been sold since their launch in October 2023. And there's little sign of Meta slowing down. Meta is currently working on its Gen 3 Ray-Ban smart glasses. It's likely that the new version of the glasses will come out in the fall, sometime after the Meta Connect 2025 event, which is September 17 and 18. As for the features, there is some speculation that the Gen 3 version will come with some sort of display in the glasses themselves. There are also rumors of a neural wristband, which Meta showed off with its Orion smart glasses. The wristband would act as a wireless controller to interact with the glasses. These Gen 3 Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses should continue to stay at the same price of $300, although that could change due to the current trade war between the U.S. and China. Meta also has plans for a higher-end pair of smart glasses. Codenamed "Hypernova" according to Bloomberg, these glasses will have a panel that will act as a screen to look at photos and apps. Since it has this display panel, the price of the glasses will reportedly start at $1,000.

Apple's smart glasses aim to put Apple Intelligence on your face

Apple continues to develop its own smart glasses, as the company looks to fend off Meta's success in the area with a competing product of its own. The Apple smart glasses - reportedly codenamed N50 - remain in development with the aim of bringing Apple Intelligence to your face. While details of products in development from Apple are often scarce, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg has a great reputation for rooting out this information, telling us that Apple continues to be interested in developing its own smart glasses. Recommended Videos Unfortunately, a marketable product remains some way off, with Gurman saying: "This device isn't close to being ready yet, but the idea is to turn glasses into an Apple Intelligence device." With Apple's AI features coming together under the banner of Apple Intelligence, channeling those skills into Apple smart glasses makes perfect sense. "The product will analyze the surrounding environment and feed information to the wearer, though it will stop well short of true augmented reality," says Gurman. It's likely that Apple will turn this information into navigation directions, give access to Siri and provide to access wider sources of information, like transit routes and times, so those things are accessible without the need to get your phone out of your pocket. That makes Apple's plans sound very much like Meta's AI glasses built in partnership with Ray-Ban. That's a good target too, as of all the smart glasses out there, Meta's Ray-Bans are the model that seems to have found favor. Meta's glasses go heavy on style and a little lighter on the tech, but currently only offer an audio experience. Meta is said to be targeting a 2025 launch for a new model that incorporates a display, which could continue to cast shade on Apple's efforts in this area. But if we know anything about Apple, it's that being first to market isn't its top priority. Apple has often taken its time to develop products before coming out with something that sets a new standard - and smart glasses are likely to be the same. Apple's interest in augmented reality is well established. It has poured a lot into Apple Vision Pro, with rumors that a lower-cost version could be launched around the same time as the iPhone 17 in fall 2025. While smart glasses and augmented reality remain two separate entities, it's not hard to imagine Apple taking things from Vision Pro into the smart glasses experience, such as gesture navigation. For now, however, it seems like Meta is the brand to watch for next-gen smart glasses, with Apple not expected to launch its own smart glasses in the near future, with a 2027 date currently expected.

Apple is quietly building AI-powered smart glasses

Apple is developing a pair of smart glasses codenamed N50, according to Mark Gurman's latest Power On newsletter. The device is expected to integrate some of the company's AI developments into a relatively affordable pair of glasses. The smart glasses are not the same as Apple's long-term goal of creating industry-leading augmented reality glasses, which are still a few years away from being feasible for consumer products. Instead, Apple is taking a more immediate approach, similar to Meta's collaboration with Ray-Ban on smart glasses that include cameras, microphones, an AI assistant, and speakers. According to Mark Gurman, Apple will follow a similar pattern: This device isn't close to being ready yet, but the idea is to turn glasses into an Apple Intelligence device. The product will analyze the surrounding environment and feed information to the wearer, though it will stop well short of true augmented reality. The Apple smart glasses will analyze the surrounding environment and provide information to the wearer, but will not offer true augmented reality capabilities, according to Gurman. The device is still in development and not yet ready for release. Previous reports have suggested that Apple may not allow the glasses to take photos due to privacy concerns, but this is still undecided. Gurman has also mentioned that Apple is working on AirPods with cameras, which will incorporate Visual Intelligence technology. Both the smart glasses and AirPods with cameras are expected to launch around 2027, based on previous reporting.

Apple's Smart Glasses Will Harness AI Power To Evolve Into A Full-Fledged Apple Intelligence Device With Visual Intelligence Support And More, Expected In 2027

We have previously reported that Tim Cook is 'hell-bent' on beating Meta to launch its own smart glasses, and it appears that the wearable is taking shape fast. Mark Gurman reports that the smart glasses are codenamed N50, and the company is continuing to develop its wearable powered by AI features. Even though it could be costly for the company, it is looking to get work done to release a product that competes directly with Meta's Ray-Bans. In his latest Power On newsletter, analyst Mark Gurman claims that Apple's smart glasses are far from a reality at this stage, as they are currently in the developmental stage. Apple's ultimate goal is to make augmented reality glasses that work and behave more or less the same way as Vision Pro glasses, but it requires a lot of time and money. It could become the next big project for the company, with the potential to grow as big as the iPhone itself, if Apple sticks the landing with the price. Until the AR glasses are ready, Apple wants to compete with existing players on the market, like Meta, by introducing a pair of smart glasses. Instead of augmented or mixed reality, the company wants the wearable to be built around Apple Intelligence, which could be the main selling point. Meta's Ray-Bans would work the same way as well, positioning the iPhone-maker as a direct competitor in the field. Needless to say, there will be more companies jumping on the bandwagon, but since Apple is a creature of habit, it will manage to offer AI features in a proprietary way. Apple wants to follow a similar approach to Meta's Ray-Bans, which is becoming quite popular with its minimal and lightweight design. Mark Gurman states that Apple's rendition will be similar, including microphones, AI features, speakers, cameras, and more. This device isn't close to being ready yet, but the idea is to turn glasses into an Apple Intelligence device. The product will analyze the surrounding environment and feed information to the wearer, though it will stop well short of true augmented reality. While the cameras are speculated to be part of the deal, the company is concerned about privacy, and it remains to be seen how the company will go about this approach. Apple and Meta will potentially launch their respective smart glasses in 2027, based on prior reports, but any supply chain issues could delay it, considering the fact that the company is going through a rough patch with tariffs. Do you think Apple will charge a sub-$1,000 price for its smart glasses with Apple Intelligence?