Apple wants to make a difference with the design of its new smart glasses

Apple has accelerated its design work for its first smart glasses that do not carry an augmented reality screen. The company is actively testing at least four different frame forms and is testing the product, according to an April 12 Power On newsletter from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Late 2026 or early 2027 aims to introduce. On the sales side, the calendar spring or summer 2027 points out. From here we understand that Apple wants to respond to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses not only with technical features but also with direct industrial design.

When we look at the information provided by Gurman, we see that Apple is working on a large rectangular frame, a thinner rectangular design similar to the glasses used by Tim Cook, a large oval or near-round option, and a smaller, more refined oval form. The company is said to be considering different color finishes such as black, ocean blue and light brown. To be honest, Apple wants to reestablish the approach of the first years of the Apple Watch here, that is, instead of releasing a single product and making everyone adapt to it, it aims to offer several looks that appeal to different face types and styles. The fact that Apple positioned the Apple Watch with different collections and wide customization options in 2015 also confirms that this strategy is not new for the company.

This product will not be augmented reality glasses. This model, which carries cameras, microphones and various sensors instead of a screen, will undertake tasks such as transferring notifications from the iPhone, taking photos and videos, playing music and running visual awareness-based artificial intelligence features with advanced Siri. In addition, we can say that the product will stand somewhere between Apple Watch and AirPods on the functional side, because the iPhone will again undertake the main processing load and the glasses will largely act as an iPhone accessory. This point is important because Meta’s existing Ray-Ban products also connect to the phone and play into daily usage scenarios with an open-ear audio system, camera and artificial intelligence support.

Apple wants to differentiate itself on the design side

One of the most interesting details in Bloomberg’s news is that the front cameras are placed in an oval arrangement and there are indicator lights around them. In addition, Apple replaced ordinary plastic in the body. acetate plans to use it. We understand that the company wants to create a more durable and premium feeling with this choice. In fact, we do not consider this approach, which plays on Apple’s fashion side, a surprise, because the company has been trying to establish a silhouette that is recognizable even from a distance in products such as AirPods and Apple Watch for years. The frame, material and camera placement details cited by Gurman also show that Apple differentiates itself from its competitors directly through appearance.

When we look at the broader picture, we must say that these glasses will not be a stand-alone product. Bloomberg wrote in February that Apple was working on a new hardware line centered on artificial intelligence, and that this line would include AirPods with cameras, a smart display focused on home use, and a wearable necklace-like product carrying cameras, in addition to smart glasses. In another Bloomberg news in March, it was stated that the company especially wanted to place the visual context understanding similar to “Visual Intelligence” at the center of this new product family. Long story short, Apple is preparing to create a new category with artificial intelligence accessories that work around the iPhone, which are lighter and blend into daily life, before expensive and advanced products like the Vision Pro.

On the user side, what this means is pretty clear. If Apple offers this product with the right price, good battery life, and strong iPhone integration, it can move the concept of smart glasses from a niche technology showcase and closer to everyday use. However, the real test of the company will be on the software side as much as the hardware, because it is still controversial whether Siri and visual artificial intelligence features have reached the expected level today. However, when we look at the picture we have, we can easily say that Apple left the dream of augmented reality for later and prepared a more realistic, more wearable and more commercial first step.