The tech giant is reportedly working on lightweight AI-powered glasses with cameras, microphones, and smart features.
Apple is gearing up for the smart glasses game, and their target is clear: Meta’s Ray-Bans.
According to Bloomberg, Apple is quietly working on a new chip designed specifically for a sleek pair of AI-powered glasses. These aren’t the full-blown augmented reality (AR) specs Apple’s been dreaming of (that’s still years away). Instead, think more along the lines of Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, only with Apple’s signature polish.
What Will Apple’s Smart Glasses Do?
So far, here’s what we know (or can reasonably expect):
Apple’s glasses will reportedly come packed with cameras and microphones, and AI will be at the heart of it all. You’ll likely be able to do things like:
- Snap photos and record videos hands-free
- Use real-time translation
- Scan your surroundings and get descriptions or directions
- Look up info about a product just by looking at it
It sounds like a cross between Apple’s Visual Intelligence tools and the hands-free simplicity of the Apple Watch, both of which could make these glasses surprisingly useful in everyday life.
And if the rumors are true, the glasses might even record spatial video using multiple cameras. That’s the kind of next-gen feature that could tie right into the Vision Pro ecosystem.
What’s Powering These Things?
Apple’s developing a custom chip for the glasses, based on the energy-efficient silicon used in Apple Watches. That makes sense as battery life is everything when you’re wearing tech on your face, and a low-power chip means lighter frames and longer use.
When Are They Coming?
Don’t expect to see these on shelves just yet. Apple is reportedly targeting mass production for 2026 or 2027, so we’re at least a year or two out from a launch. Still, development is already underway, and Apple seems committed to making this happen.
One More Thing…
While these camera-equipped smart glasses are a direct response to Meta’s Ray-Bans, Apple’s long-term goal is still clear: full-on augmented reality. The AR glasses are still in development, but those will likely take longer to materialize.
Until then, Apple seems content to enter the wearables game with a smart, camera-enabled, AI-powered stepping stone and honestly, it could be the perfect move.
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