Apple Testing Four Smart Glasses Styles Made of High-End Materials

[MacRumors]

Apple is developing at least four different styles of smart glasses, and the company is betting that their superior design will set them apart from rival products, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that Apple's latest designs are made from a high-end material called acetate, which is "more durable and luxurious" than the standard plastic used by most existing brands. In Gurman's words, the designs in testing include:

• A large rectangular frame, reminiscent of Ray-Ban Wayfarers
• A slimmer rectangular design, similar to the glasses worn by Apple CEO Tim Cook
• Larger oval or circular frames
• A smaller, more refined oval or circular option

The designs will be instantly recognizable as Apple – what the company refers to internally as the "icon" – and they are set to come in "many" color options, says Gurman, with black, ocean blue, and light brown currently being explored.

The glasses will tightly integrate with the iPhone and Siri, and they will use computer vision to interpret the user's surroundings and feed contextual awareness into Apple Intelligence. Meanwhile, the the camera system currently being considered is described as "vertically oriented oval lenses with surrounding lights," which contrasts with the circular design seen in Meta's Ray-Bans.

Apple is expected to unveil smart glasses as the end of 2026 or early the following year, with the actual release occurring in 2027. The glasses are said to be part of Apple's broader AI wearables strategy that also includes new AirPods with cameras and a camera-equipped pendant.

Article Link: Apple Testing Four Smart Glasses Styles Made of High-End Materials

 

[Alfonson]

No foldable option? 🤓
Anyway, ready when you are 💰

 

[kotaKat]

I was wondering when this weekend's crackheaded guesses from the Sunday Edition were gonna start getting republished...

... the Guesser's striking again.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Ideally I'd like something like my current (ovalish) glasses:



But "A slimmer rectangular design" - like my reading glasses - wouldn't be too shabby, either:

 

[CyberGene]

The elephant in the room is that Apple still hasn’t rolled out any truly useful Apple Intelligence features, so these glasses might end up being pricey eyewear that doesn’t do much beyond being glasses themselves.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Ok this is going to be…hmmm…for lack of a better word…huge.

 

[Mr_Ed]

The designs will be instantly recognizable as Apple – what the company refers to internally as the "icon" – and they are set to come in "many" color options, says Gurman, with black, ocean blue, and light brown currently being explored.

I’m curious how they would be “instantly recognizable as Apple.” Colorful frames are not exactly new, and neither is the use of acetate. It’s not like they have made eyeglasses before that provide a design/stylistic reference to make the connection. Big Apple logo somewhere? Who knows . . .

The glasses will tightly integrate with the iPhone and Siri, and they will use computer vision to interpret the user's surroundings and feed contextual awareness into Apple Intelligence.

I guess the trend of ever larger phones will continue. More connected devices to “service” use more battery power even if it’s a wireless device.

 

[Kylo83]

what’s the point in these exactly just to take photos lol

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I’m really torn about this. I wear eyeglasses, so it would be a seamless integration (unlike Apple Watch; I hadn’t worn a wristwatch in years). So if it gives me the notifications, etc of Apple Watch it might be worthwhile just for that. I would have to actually pull the phone out for Apple Pay, and there’s the question of the gym (workout tracking) too.

But in terms of AI - I don’t have any real interest in it. I’m sure it’s “the future” but I just haven’t seen the need personally. I’ll be retired before any real advancements are made.

 

[Kylo83]

Would rather a new Vision Pro

 

[Nyx1]

AR glass ?

 

[I am Sampson]

Acetate? You mean the stuff the sheets used on old projectors were made from? If so, hardly new/high-end....

 

[Ta_whirimatea]

Ideally I'd like something like my current (ovalish) glasses:

View attachment 2622033

But "A slimmer rectangular design" - like my reading glasses - wouldn't be too shabby, either:

View attachment 2622032

2nd pair titanium frames please.

 

[goobot]

what’s the point in these exactly just to take photos lol

Basically just to take videos of people without them realizing

 

[pcd213]

I will wait for the AR / HUD version

 

[Ta_whirimatea]

2026-27! So realistically 2030.
I trust apple to create a workable product thats better than the rest of the market but it’l be too reliant on Siri & constant cameras watching everything. people walking down the street, in a bus etc have a right to their privacy & not be filmed by folk who will use this product for the bad. So No thanks to this & also whatever device thing that love from is creating. Hope they bring meaning to future products but glasses are just too invasive when in the public.

 

[JoeSilver]

Acetate? You mean the stuff the sheets used on old projectors were made from? If so, hardly new/high-end....


View attachment 2622037

It says high-end, not new.

As a fountain pen enthusiast I know that old plastic materials such as celluloid and, to a certain extent, ebonite and Bakelite, are considered more desirable than modern plastic resins. Celluloid in particular, for its transparency and the possibility of creating colourful patterns. However celluloid is no longer used today, which makes vintage fountain pens more precious (but it’s also flammable: films, which were made of celluloid, were always a liability for cinema theatres).

 

[sakurarain]

Speak for myself only, it makes me feeling quite uncomfortable, if someone talks to me when he wears glasses with camera; and worse is that the glasses look like normal ones and no visible indication that the camera is on or off.

 

[Mr_Ed]

I’m really torn about this. I wear eyeglasses, so it would be a seamless integration (unlike Apple Watch; I hadn’t worn a wristwatch in years). So if it gives me the notifications, etc of Apple Watch it might be worthwhile just for that. I would have to actually pull the phone out for Apple Pay, and there’s the question of the gym (workout tracking) too.

But in terms of AI - I don’t have any real interest in it. I’m sure it’s “the future” but I just haven’t seen the need personally. I’ll be retired before any real advancements are made.

I know some folks want to be notified of everything. Not me, but the few types of notifications I allow to pass through to my watch are nice because I can tell at a glance if I want to do anything about it.

That said, I don’t need anything popping into my field of view for that purpose. I don’t personally have much use for “smart glasses.”

 

[diblasio]

This could be cool if dont right. Fears about being recorded are kinda overplayed here as everyone has a cell phone capable of doing this already. I hope it provides some cool features. 🙂

 

[klasma]

I’m curious how they would be “instantly recognizable as Apple.”

Maybe like this:

Or they’ll have a notch.

 

[JohannesO]

…with Apple "Intelligence"…

 

[Veinticinco]

Ah the camera-equipped pendant, the rumour that has somehow lasted beyond April 1st.

 

[_apple_apple_]

MR really should mention the following earlier rumor in every glasses articles:

The glasses will have low-resolution color + high-resolution IR for AI use only; it will always be on but will have no recording ability at all.

Yes this removes a minor use-case but also removes the spy problem and Apple very much wants people to continue using their fancy iPhone cameras for photography.

"Recognizable as Apple" - Probably means clear/white-plastic arms, with colorful lenses frame, like the famous iMac G3. The AI glasses will need to scream 'fun', as their target demograph is tweens/teens and the uses are much more limited. Also needs to appeal to people who don't actually need glasses.

I imagine the AI vs AR glasses will have very different design languages to differentiate them. The AR glasses will be a proper productivity tool, so it'll likely look more professional and serious.

 

[The Game 161]

going to be interesting and guessing with no display price won't be so high. im sure will sell well