Apple Rumored to Be Working on Two Different Types of Smart Glasses

Apple’s long-rumored smart glasses may be one step closer to reality. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company has made significant progress on the new chips it plans to use in its upcoming glasses.

The report says the company is experimenting with two different types of the wearable form factor. One will include augmented reality (AR), a technology the company has already used in its Vision Pro headset, and the other will be without AR. That latter product will likely be a competitor for devices like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses.

Previously, we’ve mostly heard rumors around AR smart glasses from Apple but it appears the company wants to compete with fashion-focused wearables alongside a more capable AR option for those looking for more functionality.

This report from sources “familiar with the matter” says the processor Apple is working on is similar to the one within the Apple Watch. Some elements have been removed to improve power efficiency and help it fit within smaller devices.

This source also says the company aims to enter mass production by the end of 2027, with a possibility of it happening sooner but not before 2026. That would suggest a version of these smart glasses may be ready for the market in the next couple of years.

The non-AR powered glasses would likely use cameras to monitor the environment and Apple Intelligence functionality for you to interact with the wearable. Apple’s AI technology is still in its infancy, so it will likely want a little while longer for it to roll out improvements before it’s used this way.

Bloomberg’s report also says that the company has begun work on its next few generations of chips for Mac products. Those include the M6, which is codenamed Komodo, and the M7, codenamed Borneo. It’s also rumored to be working on a more advanced chip called Sotra, which may follow after the M7.

Apple is rumored to be bringing an M5 chip to its Mac Pro and iPad Pro lines later this year.

About James Peckham

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I’ve written tech news for over a decade, and as a Reporter at PCMag, I cover the latest developments across the gadgets and services you use every day. Previously, I worked for Android Police, TechRadar, and more.

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