Apple Enters Smart Glasses Race
Apple is reportedly making significant progress in developing its own smart glasses. As a result, the company aims to compete directly with Meta’s popular Ray-Ban smart glasses. According to a recent Bloomberg report, sources familiar with the matter reveal that Apple is designing a custom chip specifically for these wearables. Furthermore, mass production of components could begin as early as late 2026 or 2027. This, in turn, suggests that Apple may launch the smart glasses within the next two years.
This move signals Apple’s intention to enter the non-augmented reality (AR) smart glasses market. Currently, this space is dominated by Meta’s camera and AI-equipped Ray-Ban offerings. While Apple has long been rumoured to be working on more advanced AR glasses with integrated displays, this product is still in the early stages of development. It is not expected to arrive in the near future.
Apple is expected to incorporate features similar to the Meta Ray-Bans into its new smart glasses, including integrated cameras, microphones, and on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities. This would likely enable users to perform functions such as capturing photos and videos, and potentially offering real-time language translation.
Potential for Advanced AI Integration
Apple is reportedly considering integrating a feature similar to its “Visual Intelligence” system. This system could enable the glasses to scan the environment and identify objects. It may also provide information about products and offer directions. Additionally, the inclusion of multiple cameras suggests the possibility of recording spatial video. This feature is already available in Apple’s Vision Pro headset and is expected to appear in upcoming iPhone models.
Reports indicate that developers are basing the custom chip for these smart glasses on the power-efficient System-on-a-Chip (SiP) technology used in the Apple Watch. Apple’s silicon design team has apparently optimised this architecture further to enhance power efficiency, crucial for a wearable device with multiple sensors and AI processing.
Broader AI Integration Strategy
This development aligns with a broader trend within Apple to integrate AI across its product ecosystem. Recent reports also suggest that the company is working on adding cameras and dedicated AI chips to future AirPods and Apple Watch models, indicating a push towards more intelligent and context-aware wearable devices.
Meta has already made its mark in the smart glasses market through its collaboration with Ray-Ban. However, Apple’s upcoming entry is expected to introduce significant competition and innovation. Meta’s current Ray-Ban smart glasses feature a 12MP ultra-wide camera for capturing photos and videos. They also include a five-microphone array for immersive audio recording and discreet open-ear speakers for audio playback. These speakers allow users to hear sound without blocking ambient noise. Additionally, the glasses offer integration with Meta AI, enabling tasks like asking questions, translating text, and setting reminders, all through voice commands.
