Apple Smart Glasses: what we know so far about the glasses expected in 2027

Rumors about Apple glasses have been circulating for months, but over the past few weeks that picture has suddenly become a lot more concrete. Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, usually well plugged into Apple, sketches a fairly detailed picture of what to expect and when. Time to line up what is known so far.

Why so many rumors right now

The direct trigger is Meta’s rise with its Ray-Ban glasses. They are selling better than expected and show that there really is a market for glasses you wear all day, unlike a bulky VR headset you only put on at home. Apple does not want to leave that market to Meta and, according to Gurman, has moved its plans forward to join in on time.

Timeline: unveiling at WWDC 2027, sales late in the year

The first rumors still spoke of an announcement in late 2026 and a release in early 2027. That has since been revised. Apple is now aiming for an unveiling at WWDC in June 2027, with an actual launch only later that year. The delay is mostly in the software: Apple wants the glasses to work well with Siri and Apple Intelligence, and that takes more time than expected.

What the glasses will look like

Apple is clearly focused on making the glasses actually look like regular glasses rather than a piece of tech. The frame is made of acetate, in several colors including black, ocean blue, and light brown, with multiple frame shapes so there is something for most faces and tastes. One notable detail is the oval-shaped cameras built into the frame.

What the glasses can do

The first generation focuses on the basics: cameras, speakers, and microphones for taking pictures and video, and for communicating with your iPhone. Through voice you can address Siri and Apple Intelligence, play music, make calls, and ask questions about what you see, for example to identify an object or find your way. Apple is also targeting all-day battery life, which is not a given for this kind of glasses.

Privacy as a focus

Glasses with a built-in camera quickly raise questions about exactly who is being filmed and what happens with that. Apple appears to be aware of this and clearly positions privacy as a distinguishing point compared to Meta. Details on what that looks like technically are not yet available, but the theme comes up in nearly every report about the glasses.

What is not in it yet

Anyone expecting a screen in the glasses will be disappointed. The first version has no built-in display and therefore no augmented reality in the sense of digital information projected over the real world. Apple is even said to have tested versions without cameras, focused purely on AI features through audio. That AR layer is seen as something for a later generation.

And what about the Vision Pro

Interestingly, Apple seems to be delaying its plans for a lighter, cheaper Vision Pro successor, sometimes called Vision Air, at the same time. It was previously planned for late 2027, but is now expected only in late 2028 or 2029. It looks like Apple is temporarily shifting attention and resources to the glasses, since they are closer to a mass-market product than a headset.

For anyone already in the ecosystem with an iPhone and Apple Watch, the glasses are potentially a logical next step: not a new screen to stare at, but a way to keep Siri and Apple Intelligence closer at hand. One thing is certain: in the coming months, heading toward WWDC 2027, a lot more will come out about this.