News Reporter | Song Jianan
According to the latest scoop from famed tech journalist Mark Gurman, Apple’s first consumer-focused smart glasses have hit another delay, with the release date now pushed to late 2027. Earlier, folks were expecting the product to start shipping in early 2027.
Unlike the Apple Vision Pro, which is all about high-end spatial computing and immersive AR experiences, these smart glasses are built for everyday wear. They look a lot like traditional eyeglasses, with a vertical oval camera built into the frame, plus built-in speakers and a mic. You can snap photos, record videos, play music, take calls, chat with Siri, and even get walking directions—pretty basic stuff for now.
When it comes to looks, inside sources say Apple is testing at least four different frame designs: large rectangular, slim rectangular, big oval, and smaller oval or round shapes. They’re also playing around with colors like black, sea blue, and light brown. Apple is making its own exclusive plastic frames, unlike Meta Ray-Ban’s approach of teaming up with a traditional eyewear brand. This way, Apple keeps total control over design and build quality.
One big thing to note: the first version won’t have AR displays built into the lenses. Gurman says it’ll take several more years for AR tech to really mature before it’s ready to roll out. For now, Apple is focusing on nailing the wear-and-feel experience, camera quality, and AI features. Later on, they’ll gradually add health tracking and augmented reality.
Gurman also noted that Apple CEO Tim Cook has made these smart glasses a core strategic project—his number-one priority before he officially hands the reins to successor John Ternus on September 1st.
From a market perspective, these smart glasses are carrying the weight of Apple’s hardware transformation. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International has said in multiple reports that Apple has a clear roadmap for head-mounted devices, and 2027 will be the big year for new wearables. He estimates the Apple smart glasses, similar in style to Meta Ray-Ban, will start mass production in 2027, with annual shipments possibly hitting 3 to 5 million units—way more than the Vision series headsets ever managed.
Ever since the Apple Vision Pro hit the shelves, its steep $3,500 price tag, bulky design, and lackluster app ecosystem have left it struggling. An insider close to Apple says the company has paused work on a new Vision Pro, and key R&D team members have been shifted to projects like Siri and AI smart glasses.
Earlier, the market thought Vision Pro would sell 10 million units in 2026. But according to IDC, Canalys, and other third-party estimates, as of April 2026, worldwide sales are only around 600,000 units, and the return rate is way higher than Apple’s usual hardware—making it arguably the worst-performing Apple gadget in the last ten years.
Given all that, Apple is now throwing more resources into lightweight smart glasses, which have way more mainstream appeal.
Looking at the current smart glasses scene, Meta has already taken a huge lead with its Ray-Ban collaboration, grabbing the lion’s share of the market. Omdia data shows that in 2025, global AI glasses shipments hit 8.7 million units, up a massive 322% year-over-year—a clear sign that people are getting excited about this new AI gadget category. Meta held 85.2% of that market, shipping 7.4 million units, up 281.3% from the previous year.
Plus, Samsung and Google are rushing in too, making the competition fiercer than ever. In China, players like Rokid, Thunderbird Innovation, XREAL, INAIR, Li Weike, and Huawei are all fighting for a piece of the pie.
Analysts at All View Cloud say AI smart glasses will head in two directions: first, tech improvements to make AI interactions smoother, like real-time translation, gesture control, and smarter voice assistants; second, specialized versions for fields like education, healthcare, industry, and outdoor sports, so they can stand out in different niches.
All View Cloud thinks the rise of AI smart glasses has real structural support, but short-term growth might be overhyped. The key factors are battery life breakthroughs, how efficient on-device AI chips become, and whether people are genuinely willing to pay for a “glasses + AI” combo.
Even if Apple manages to launch its first smart glasses in late 2027 as planned, it’ll still face a ton of real-world hurdles. For starters, the delay gives Meta more time to lock in its market position, meaning Apple might miss the prime window to win over early adopters. Second, the first-gen product lacks core AR features, so relying only on camera, voice, and basic interactions may not be enough to set it apart. Balancing lightweight design, battery life, and a solid user experience is still a tough technical puzzle. And let’s be honest—Apple’s AI game hasn’t been super impressive. Getting people to shell out for a new smart device, while also building a strong third-party app ecosystem, will really test Apple’s product sense and marketing chops.
The upcoming 2026 Apple WWDC, which kicks off this month, might drop some hints about the smart glasses’ future direction. The conference will unveil platform updates, including AI progress, new software, and developer tools. Expect new operating systems like iOS 27, macOS 27, and iPadOS 27, all with a focus on on-device AI, smarter assistants, and cross-device connections. That’ll give us a solid clue about what AI features Apple’s smart glasses will bring.
