Here's When to Expect Apple's Answer to Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses

[MacRumors]

Apple is reportedly developing smart glasses that could compete with the Meta Ray-Bans, but they are not expected to launch for a few more years.

Earlier this week, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he expects Apple's smart glasses to enter mass production in the second quarter of 2027. Similar to the Meta Ray-Bans, he said that Apple's glasses will allow users to take photos, record videos, and listen to music, with both touch and hands-free voice control. These type of smart glasses are intended to let you capture a moment without needing to take your phone out of your pocket.

Kuo said that Apple plans to offer multiple frame and material options for its smart glasses, but he did not indicate if it will partner with a major glasses brand, such as Ray-Ban or Oakley. Meta's smart glasses are offered with three different Ray-Ban frames, including the iconic Wayfarer style that has been popular for decades.

Like the Meta Ray-Bans, Kuo said Apple's first glasses will not have built-in augmented reality displays. However, next-generation Meta Ray-Bans with such displays are expected to launch later this year, so Apple will remain well behind.

Meta's glasses are equipped with a 12-megapixel camera with 1080p video capture, dual speakers, five microphones, a touchpad on the right arm, and an LED that indicates when video recording is active. Meta says the glasses last up to four hours with a single charge, and up to 36 hours with a fully-charged carrying case.

Meta Ray-Bans were released in September 2023, with U.S. pricing starting at $299. In February, Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica announced that it had sold more than two million pairs of the glasses, making them a relative hit in a growing device category.

For now, Apple's only head-mounted device is the Vision Pro, which starts at a hefty $3,499. It is estimated that Apple has sold only 500,000 to 700,000 units of the Vision Pro, at best, since it launched in February 2024. Kuo believes that Apple's smart glasses will be far more successful, with shipments reaching 3-5 million units or more in 2027.

The unfortunate part is that 2027 remains quite a while away, with Apple's competitors in this space innovating at a much faster pace.

Article Link: Here's When to Expect Apple's Answer to Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses

 

[the future]

The unfortunate part is that 2027 remains quite a while away, with Apple's competitors in this space innovating at a much faster pace.

Where by „innovating“ you mean „release half-baked prototypes“.

 

[hieranonymous]

Apple should have released something like this years ago. Instead they’re years away from releasing something like this.

 

[coolfactor]

Take your time, Apple. No rush. Get it right.

 

[txa1265]

Apple should have released something like this years ago. Instead they’re years away from releasing something like this.

Google's farcical 'Google Glass' crapware says otherwise.

 

[gleepskip]

Put the Siri team on it. It’ll be done by 2035.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Take your time, Apple. No rush. Get it right.

This is the age-old saying with Apple. They're not always first, but they do it better. Except it's getting increasingly hard to believe in that lately. Apple Intelligence was not first or better.

 

[note235]

I have the Meta ray bans and love them. 2027 is definitely far away

 

[nostaws]

They should release these today, and say "for us, apple glass is just a hobby." Then see where it takes us.

I appreciate the idea of "get it right." But sometimes you have to release a product and see how people really want to use it. iPhone is a pretty good example. Initially, there was no app store. developers were supposed to write web apps, and that all changed when they got feedback from developers and learned how people wanted to interact with their phones.

 

[Rychiar]

Too little too late must be their motto anymore

 

[L.U.C.A]

Apple should have released something like this years ago. Instead they’re years away from releasing something like this.

After getting your head around the fact that the best competition requires charging your sunglasses after only 4 hours, do you think it’s really a viable product like that? ‘Years away’ is probably accurate when it comes to usability, for any brand.

 

[dwaite]

I have my doubts here, Tim Cook is notorious about trying to get rid of products which serve as distractions.

Kuo believes that Apple's smart glasses will be far more successful, with shipments reaching 3-5 million units or more in 2027.

Assuming equivalent price, the most optimistic take would come out to a max of $1.5 billion million revenue annually, in a product category that generates 41 billion annually (so ~3.6% at most).

That is likely going to negatively impact other parts of the category as people would augment their watch/Airpods with glasses rather than purchase an upgrade - augment, because you aren't going to wear sunglasses indoors or at night, so it can't totally replace either of them. I also have a lot of doubt you can get AirPods-quality audio from speakers embedded into the arms of glasses.

Do others know of a demographic that wouldn't buy headphones or a watch, but would wear a camera on their face?

 

[lkrupp]

Apple should have released something like this years ago. Instead they’re years away from releasing something like this.

No, just plain no.

 

[svish]

Think it will be in 2027 along with the iPhone launch. As for the price not sure. Apple may decide to sell it for $399 or even go for $499. Have to wait and see.

 

[hieranonymous]

Google's farcical 'Google Glass' crapware says otherwise.

If other companies’ bad takes on a concept served as discouragement, Apple would never have released the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad, the Apple Watch.

 

[richinaus]

I hope they team up with Mykita - seems a better combination [plus all I wear are their Mylon range, which are perfect for this].

 

[hieranonymous]

After getting your head around the fact that the best competition requires charging your sunglasses after only 4 hours, do you think it’s really a viable product like that? ‘Years away’ is probably accurate when it comes to usability, for any brand.

I have a pair of Meta Ray-Bans. They typically last about twelve hours for me on a single charge. Everything about them is solid, except for the Meta part. Everyone I know who owns a pair likes them. This is a space Apple could easily have dominated if a doofussy company like Meta is able to make headway.

 

[tyranne201]

I hope everyone start banning theses glasses in restaurants, bathrooms and everything else.

 

[tonester1984]

Apple wasted so much money and time on the Apple Car, a space they really had no reason to get into, IMO. They should of spent that time and money on AI and apparently more wearables.

However, I just see all this AI getting into everything and I can honestly say I don't want any of it and while I think AI and the potential for wearables and eventually even implantables are very cool and have some really great applications, I think the dangers of isolation, depression, manipulation, privacy intrusion, government and cooperate tracking; just to name a few, far outweigh the benefit.

I find myself increasingly wanting to get technology out of my life! I think 1998-2006 was the sweet spot of technology. Wish we could go back to the simplicity of that time, before everything had to be on the internet, but we still had great computers.

 

[SAIRUS]

Honestly with how much middle management bloats simple processes at Apple…I once asked for a glass of water in a meeting…I’m still waiting on it.


(I’m partially telling the truth here, we actually had a requirement gathering meeting on what we needed, and I had already sent my request in).

 

[MichaelAdam]

No need Tim this is irrelevant … Focus on Vision air release …

 

[richinaus]

No need Tim this is irrelevant … Focus on Vision air release …

I hope he does. These glasses are irrelevant - they are a cheap gimmick small stepping stone.

 

[AeroEd]

I hope everyone start banning theses glasses in restaurants, bathrooms and everything else.

Why? If you’re in public , expect to be recorded. Why am I not allowed to record ppl when we are under surveillance 24/7 anyways lol

 

[klasma]

Put the Siri team on it. It’ll be done by 2035.

I heard they put the Car team on it.

 

[klasma]

After getting your head around the fact that the best competition requires charging your sunglasses after only 4 hours, do you think it’s really a viable product like that? ‘

Well, they thought the Vision Pro at two hours was a viable product.