Apple is speeding up the creation of it's new wearable device: smart glasses powered by AI. These glasses are set to compete with Meta’s Ray-bans. Reports from Bloomberg indicate that Apple aims for a launch in late 2026 and has started making large prototypes for production.
This update clarifies earlier reports suggesting that Apple would unveil its smart glasses alongside custom chips based on the Apple Watch design. Initially, it was thought that chip production would kick off in summer 2026. However, Bloomberg now states that apple plans to produce notable numbers of the smart glasses themselves by late 2025, indicating a more enterprising timeline than previously believed.
Even though Apple's advanced AR glasses are still years away, this new project, codenamed N401, will enhance Siri's capabilities in a sleeker format than conventional headsets.Picture them as “Vision Light”: Smart glasses equipped with cameras, speakers, and microphones for live translation, handling calls, and providing turn-by-turn directions. Unlike the Vision Pro headset, these glasses won’t have augmented reality displays; they will depend on audio feedback rather. This choice aims to simplify design while keeping costs down and reducing bulkiness. Earlier reports hinted at both an AR version and a non-AR version from Apple; N401 clearly falls into the latter category.
The development of these smart glasses fits into Apple's larger plan to remain competitive in the growing market for AI-driven devices. Companies like Meta and Google are already active players here; openai's recent hardware partnership with Jony Ive adds even more competition.Interestingly, this latest report does not mention specialized chips previously discussed—Glennie for AirPods or nevis for Apple Watch—but it highlights challenges related to integrating camera data within a lightweight frame. The idea of processing some tasks through an iPhone remains relevant as Apple works on balancing performance with power efficiency.
Other Wearable Projects at Apple
Not every concept is moving forward smoothly at Apple. Reports suggest that development has stopped on a smartwatch featuring an integrated camera designed for real-world analysis capabilities. this watch was intended to offer environmental sensing but faced technical issues and privacy concerns leading to its cancellation.
internally, Apple's smart glasses project encounters similar AI challenges seen elsewhere within the company’s initiatives. While Meta’s Ray-Bans utilize Llama technology and Android XR devices rely on Google’s Gemini system for visual recognition tasks,Apple's current approach depends heavily on third-party AI solutions like OpenAI or Google Lens via iPhones.Analysts predict that soon we may see proprietary models from Apple introduced alongside these new smart glasses.If everything goes according to plan, Apple's AI-powered eyewear could mark its first major step into wearables focused primarily on artificial intelligence—potentially changing how we engage with our daily lives considerably. Whether they can outpace Meta remains uncertain; though, it's clear that Apple is persistent not just to observe but actively participate in this evolving market.
