Apple is reportedly developing at least four different styles of smart glasses, with the company aiming to differentiate itself from competitors through a stronger focus on design and usability, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Gurman says Apple’s strategy is centered on making the device category more appealing to everyday users by prioritizing aesthetics, comfort, and seamless integration with its broader ecosystem. Rather than launching a single prototype design, Apple is believed to be exploring multiple form factors in parallel, reflecting different use cases and style preferences.
The effort comes as competition in the smart glasses space continues to grow, with several companies experimenting with augmented reality features, camera-equipped eyewear, and AI-driven assistants. Apple’s approach, however, is expected to emphasize a more refined consumer product experience, similar to how the company has approached the Apple Watch and AirPods categories.
While details about the individual designs remain limited, the multiple-style development suggests Apple is still in an exploratory phase, testing how different shapes, materials, and functionalities might appeal to users. Gurman’s report indicates that Apple is particularly focused on ensuring the glasses feel like a natural extension of everyday wearables rather than a niche tech accessory.
No release timeline has been confirmed, and the project is still considered to be in development. However, Apple’s continued investment in multiple design directions signals that smart glasses remain a long-term priority for the company as it expands into next-generation wearable computing.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is developing smart glasses using a high-end material called acetate, which he describes as “more durable and luxurious” than the standard plastic typically used in current smart eyewear from competing brands.
According to Gurman, Apple is experimenting with multiple frame designs as part of its development process, including:
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A large rectangular frame, similar to classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers
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A slimmer rectangular design, reportedly inspired by the style often associated with Apple CEO Tim Cook
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Larger oval or circular frames
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A smaller, more refined oval or circular option
Despite the variety, Gurman notes that all versions are intended to be immediately recognizable as Apple products—aligning with what the company internally refers to as its design “icon,” meaning a consistent visual identity across product lines. The smart glasses are also expected to launch in a range of color options, with black, ocean blue, and light brown currently being explored.
On the technical side, the glasses are expected to integrate deeply with the Siri and the iPhone, using computer vision to interpret the user’s surroundings and feed contextual information into Apple Intelligence features. This would allow the device to function as a lightweight, always-available AI companion for real-world awareness and assistance.
Gurman also describes a potential camera system featuring “vertically oriented oval lenses with surrounding lights,” which would distinguish Apple’s design from competitors such as Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, which use a more circular camera layout.
The project is reportedly part of Apple’s broader push into AI-driven wearables, which may also include future devices such as camera-equipped AirPods and a wearable pendant-style accessory.
As for timing, Apple is expected to unveil its smart glasses around late 2026 or early 2027, with a consumer release likely following in 2027. While still in development, the project signals Apple’s long-term ambition to establish a strong presence in the emerging AI wearable and augmented reality space.