According to Bloomberg, Apple's first smart glasses are expected to be released before Christmas 2026. Four designs, two cameras, an N401 chip, and a revamped Siri – all the latest rumors at a glance.
With Apple Glasses, Apple is entering a completely new product category. The glasses won't be an AR headset like the Vision Pro, but rather lightweight, everyday smart glasses with cameras, microphones, and Siri integration – comparable to the Ray-Ban Meta. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is currently testing four frame designs and aiming for a launch during the 2026 holiday season.
While Meta has long since established its own smart glasses category with Ray-Ban glasses, and Google will follow suit in 2026 with Android XR, Apple is deliberately starting later – but with a clear focus on design, materials, and Siri integration. The goal is to create glasses that are instantly recognizable as an Apple product, similar to AirPods or Apple Watch.
Rumors about Apple Glasses have been circulating for years. After several delays and a strategic shift away from complex AR glasses, the focus is now on a practical product: no displays, no AR in the first generation – but cameras, spatial audio, AI-powered visual intelligence, and deep iPhone integration.
The most important points in brief
| Detail | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Release | End of 2026 (Christmas season) |
| Chip | N401 (based on Apple Watch S series) |
| Cameras | Two (Photo/Video + Computer Vision) |
| Display | Not in the first generation |
| Frame material | Acetate |
| Designs | Four are being tested |
| Colors | Black, Ocean Blue, Light Brown (previously) |
| iPhone addiction | Yes, primarily via Bluetooth |
Four frame designs under testing
According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple is currently testing four different frame designs. The plan is to launch several of them simultaneously – similar to the wide range of options at the Apple Watch debut in 2015. The four designs are:
- A large rectangular frame in the style of Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses
- A slimmer rectangular frame, similar to Tim Cook's glasses.
- A larger oval or round frame
- A smaller, more delicate oval frame
Apple is also testing various colors: Black, Ocean Blue, and Light Brown are confirmed, with more to follow. Acetate is used as the frame material – according to Gurman, a "more durable and luxurious" material than the plastic used by Meta.
Distinctive camera design
According to Gurman, the front cameras will be arranged in a vertical oval shape and surrounded by indicator LEDs. This arrangement differs significantly from the horizontal layout of the Meta Glasses and is part of Apple's strategy to make the Glasses instantly recognizable as an Apple product.
The LEDs signal when a recording is in progress – a step that responds to privacy concerns that regularly arise with hidden cameras in glasses.
N401: A chip based on the Apple Watch
Inside the glasses is a custom-designed chip codenamed N401. According to Bloomberg, this chip is based on the Apple Watch's S-series and has been optimized for extreme energy efficiency. The reason: Smart glasses must deliver all-day battery life with minimal weight and passive cooling – a challenge that the Apple Watch architecture has already proven itself to meet.
The N401 handles on-device AI inference for visual intelligence and basic functions. Computationally intensive tasks are offloaded to the paired iPhone.
Two cameras for different tasks
The Apple Glasses are said to be equipped with two cameras:
- Photo and video camera for recordings from the perspective of the person carrying the load.
- Computer vision camera for spatial recognition and context analysis
The second camera provides Siri and Apple Intelligence with information about the environment – it recognizes objects, measures distances, and can interpret context, similar to LiDAR on the iPhone. This enables features such as real-time translations, object recognition, and context-aware Siri requests.
Apple Glasses: Siri as the central interface
According to reports, the entire operation of the Apple Glasses is primarily handled by the revamped, LLM-based Siri. This is expected to be significantly more powerful from iOS 27 onwards, capable of understanding complex contexts, analyzing visual information, and enabling hands-free interactions.
Typical applications:
- Display notifications from iPhone
- Making phone calls, sending messages
- Taking photos and videos
- Control music, podcasts and navigation with voice commands
- Real-time translations
- Object recognition and visual intelligence for landmarks, plants, and products
Without a reliable new Siri, the Glasses would have a hard time – which is why the launch schedule is closely linked to the maturity of the revised assistant.
Release: Christmas season 2026
According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple is aiming for a launch before Christmas 2026. This is a significant acceleration compared to earlier timelines that projected a launch in spring or summer 2027. The reason: Meta has established the category in the mainstream with its Ray-Ban smart glasses, and Apple doesn't want to allow its competitor's lead to grow any further.
Apple thus falls behind Meta (already on its third generation) and Google (Android XR glasses in 2026) in terms of timing. A Christmas launch in 2026 would be a prime opportunity to generate maximum attention and sales figures – and to shape the category on its own terms, rather than simply reacting to Meta's lead.
Price: No official information yet
There is currently no confirmed pricing information. For comparison, the Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses start at around $300, with premium versions ranging from $380 to $500. Apple is likely to position itself in the premium segment – estimates from secondary sources suggest a starting price of around $499, but there is no official information.
Part of a larger AI wearables strategy
According to Gurman, the Apple Glasses are part of a broader AI wearables strategy. This also includes:
- AirPods with integrated cameras for visual intelligence
- A wearable pendant with a camera that collects contextual data for Apple Intelligence
- A classic AR glasses with a display as a second phase, timeframe 2028 or later
The strategy: Apple is simultaneously testing various ways users want to interact with AI in everyday life. Those who don't want to wear glasses could opt for camera-integrated AirPods. Those who don't want cameras on their heads could choose a head-mounted device. The smart glasses are one component of a broader strategy, not the only one in the mix.
Who are the Apple Glasses intended for?
Apple Glasses are aimed at iPhone users who want a convenient extension to their Apple ecosystem – without the hassle and weight of a headset like the Vision Pro. For those already using AirPods and an Apple Watch, the Glasses provide a third option for hands-free interaction with the iPhone.
Anyone expecting true AR glasses with a display and spatial content will have to wait: these are planned for 2028 at the earliest and will be significantly more expensive. The first generation of Apple Glasses is deliberately positioned as an everyday entry-level device – more like a Meta Ray-Ban than a Vision Pro.
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