AI-enhanced Apple Glass smart glasses set for 2026 release

AppleInsider

The long-rumored Apple Glass smart glasses will reportedly hit store shelves by the end of 2026, with Apple planning for them to be part of its overall AI push.

Optimistic renders of what Apple Glass could look like - Image Credit: AppleInsider

Apple's smart glasses initiative has been repeatedly rumored, with the potential of a simplified form of Apple Glass arriving in late 2026 or early 2027. Now, it seems that Apple is really trying to get the head-mounted devices out in late 2026, and with more of an AI twist.

According to an employee of Apple speaking to Bloomberg on Thursday, Apple is planning to lean towards a release in late 2026, instead of allowing it to slip into 2027.

The version that will arrive at that time won't be the full-fat Apple Glass experience that has been rumored about, involving augmented reality. Instead, it will be a version that more closely resembles the Ray-Ban Meta eyewear.

While following in the footsteps of Meta, Apple's will differ considerably, the employee adds. It will allegedly be "better made" than Meta's effort.

Ramped up production

The report says that Apple is putting more work into making the smart glasses a reality and to do so on time. This apparently involves the creation of "large quantities" of prototype glasses before the end of 2025, which will be used for testing ahead of mass production.

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As for what the smart glasses will do, it is thought that they will include cameras and microphones, allowing for Apple's AI systems to see the world for queries. They will also have fairly similar features to Meta's glasses, such as being able to record video and take photos, handle phone calls and music playback, and even aid in navigation.

Digital assistant Siri will obviously be involved with the glasses, which should also be in a greatly improved form by the time they launch. As for processing, Apple is rumored to be working on new chips for the glasses, which will be power efficient and help keep the glasses lightweight.

The release will also be a precursor to the full AR-based version that Apple is still working on.

Rumor Score: Possible

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massiveattack

AppleInsider said:

Digital assistant Siri will obviously be involved with the glasses, which should also be in a greatly improved form by the time they launch. 

SIRIously??? 

ssfe11

Can’t wait! Let’s go!

charlesn

There is zero chance that Apple is going to release some half-baked, Meta wannabe glasses. 

rogue01

"Digital assistant Siri will obviously be involved with the glasses, which should also be in a greatly improved form by the time they launch."

It is funny what they think will actually be a reality.  They can't even get Siri to work well on the phone, and that has been around for 14 years...and users are still waiting.  They still botched it and now they claim iOS 19.  Not likely.  This seems like it was written by that Apple Shill Ryan over at 9to5.  His articles have destroyed the credibility of that site with all his fantasy pieces that he claims are reality.

wesley_hilliard

Rogue01 said:

This seems like it was written by that Apple Shill Ryan over at 9to5.  His articles have destroyed the credibility of that site with all his fantasy pieces that he claims are reality.

Not only is it totally unnecessary to randomly insult someone, there are rules against it. Sure, Ryan doesn't work here, but there's no need for this. I happen to like Siri myself in spite of its faults, and I fully expect Apple's AI enhancements will make it a wholly different entity by the time Apple glasses appear.

Chill.

9secondkox2

As predicted. This is the only way to get the Vision Pro idea into the mainstream. If anyone can do a comprehensive great job, it's Apple.

charlesn

Rogue01 said:

"Digital assistant Siri will obviously be involved with the glasses, which should also be in a greatly improved form by the time they launch."

It is funny what they think will actually be a reality.  They can't even get Siri to work well on the phone, and that has been around for 14 years...and users are still waiting.  They still botched it and now they claim iOS 19.  Not likely.  

This same thought occurred to me. On April 10th this year, Siri celebrated her quinceañera with Apple--and let's remember that Siri was already an existing technology when Apple acquired Siri, Inc.--so the speed of progress after all this time makes glaciers look like hundred meter sprinters. In fact, it was only within the last couple of months that AppleInsider ran a headline story about Siri actually performing worse than usual at the very time when Apple was supposed to be delivering the "all new" Siri. And when Apple did its mea culpa about not delivering, it issued a vague timeline of rolling out the new Siri "within the coming year." Well... it's 2025, so "the coming year" is 2026, and that vague verbiage gives Apple until Dec of '26 to deliver. Now we're told the "all-new Siri" will also be integral to Apple's first gen smart glasses within that same timeline? Yeah, no... I don't think so. 

edited May 23

danox

Rogue01 said:

"Digital assistant Siri will obviously be involved with the glasses, which should also be in a greatly improved form by the time they launch."

It is funny what they think will actually be a reality.  They can't even get Siri to work well on the phone, and that has been around for 14 years...and users are still waiting.  They still botched it and now they claim iOS 19.  Not likely.  This seems like it was written by that Apple Shill Ryan over at 9to5.  His articles have destroyed the credibility of that site with all his fantasy pieces that he claims are reality.

Siri can work great/better on a Apple device however, Apple will need to change gears and become more like Google and tie your iPhone your Mac, and your iPad to a much larger behind the scene always on always connected to your device back of house Apple servers without absolutely any worries about your privacy whatsoever a`la Google, Meta and Microsoft who don’t care because you ain’t there customer you’re their mark.

A lot of this sounds like all the complaints about Amazon Alexa remember those little cheap speakers (what happened to those things?) that talk to you that were turned on always connected and phoned home to the back of house infrastructure that was Amazon nice parlor trick at the time, and Apple should duplicate it because they’re behind. What are they gonna do? Apple is in trouble again.

At the end of the day Apple can give in and also do that always connected phone home absolutely no privacy solution, Apple could be working towards that but unlike the others they also have Apple Silicon and they’re still working on those M5/M6 Ultra’s servers behind the scenes to complete that task maybe?

I hope Apples goal is to still create a on a edge solution because Apple has the hardware and the software under one roof to make it happen their competition does not they have to go with the back of house on their super computer solution, in addition to the fact that the also want to create a moat around AI, that certainly is OpenAI, Meta and Microsoft goal because none of them have any mobile hardware in house whatsoever, and Google’s which does has some it is one of the weakest processors used in mobile today.

And last, but not least, whose profitable gatekeeper infrastructure, are they planning on using for free by government decree if necessary, are they planning on using to accomplish their moat in AI. (filled with users willing to pay despite a relatively small market size, the breakdown will be similar to the iOS/Android App marketplace profit breakdown worldwide).

edited May 24

macgui

AI said:
As for what the smart glasses will do, it is thought that they will include cameras and microphones, allowing for Apple's AI systems to see the world for queries. They will also have fairly similar features to Meta's glasses, such as being able to record video and take photos, handle phone calls and music playback, and even aid in navigation.

In handling phone calls would the Glass behave as AirPods and not as an independent cellular device? I don't pay for cellular service for my Ultra and have never bought a Watch with the cellular option. Paying for cellular service for Glass would be a non-starter.