The Apple's new glasses They are becoming the company's most interesting project since the Vision Pro. We're not talking about another bulky helmet, but rather... glasses that look like conventional onesBut they hide cameras, microphones, speakers and artificial intelligence to compete head-to-head with Meta's Ray-Bans.
This move is not by chance: Apple has decided reorganize their entire extended reality strategyThe lightweight and inexpensive Vision Pro model, known internally as Vision Air, has been put on hold so that engineers can focus on these more discreet, lightweight glasses designed to be worn all day, like a regular pair of sunglasses.
What Apple is preparing: from Vision Pro to the new smart glasses
Apple has been investing heavily in this for years. augmented, virtual and extended realityThe first big step was the Apple Vision Pro, a mixed reality headset unveiled at WWDC 2023 and released in 2024 for $3.499, designed more as a "spatial computer" than a simple VR headset.
However, the Vision Pro has Several obvious obstacles: it is expensive, heavy, and not easily accessible. for the average user. Its adoption has been limited and, although the technology is spectacular, the general public is not willing to wear a bulky headset around the house or office for hours.
Therefore, the most reliable rumors suggest that Apple has decided prioritize smart glasses for everyday useThese are much closer to everyday sunglasses, compared to new models with massive visors. The project for a lightweight version of the Vision Pro, called the Vision Air, with a launch planned for 2027, has reportedly been halted or at least postponed.
At the same time, analysts point out that Apple is not completely abandoning the Vision Pro familyThere would be an upgrade with M5 chipPerformance improvements and slightly better battery life, plus a true second generation by 2028, lighter and with renewed hardware.
Apple's future smart glasses, at a glance
What Apple is preparing is not just a simple pair of Bluetooth glasses, but an accessory designed to be the massive gateway to AI-assisted realityAlthough the project remains highly secretive, leaked reports allow us to paint a fairly complete picture of what these first glasses would look like.
In the initial phase, we talk about the internally named model N50These are glasses without their own screen, relying on the iPhone for most of the processing. Later, a variant with integrated screens and more complex augmented reality capabilities will arrive, intended to compete directly with Meta's Ray-Ban Display and with... Samsung's future XR modelsXREAL and company.
The initial data agree that These glasses will focus on cameras, audio, and AInot by projecting complex interfaces in front of your eyes. They will function more as a smart, always-connected accessory than as a Vision Pro-style headset, which is much better suited to discreet, continuous street use.
Furthermore, Apple seems determined to place them in a much more reasonable price range, with a target between 400 and 600 eurosso that they are not relegated to enthusiasts and developers as has happened with the Vision Pro.
Design, materials and personalization: technology that is also fashion
If the Apple Watch made one thing clear, it's that for Apple Any device you carry around all day is both a gadget and a fashion accessoryWith these glasses, the philosophy will be the same: they have to match your style as much as they function well.
Apple is expected to offer frames in different materials and finishesFrom lightweight aluminum to high-quality plastics, with a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. The idea is to have models like eyeglasses, sunglasses, and more sporty or urban styles, just like you choose Apple Watch bands or iPhone cases today.
The technical challenge is considerable, because the mount has to hide a battery, an Apple Watch-type chip, cameras, microphones, speakers and sensorsAll this without them weighing a ton or looking like a huge prototype. Some reports mention that Apple is testing manufacturing with 3D printing for certain components, which would facilitate customization without significantly increasing costs.
Another key point is the lenses: they are expected standard versions, sunglasses, and compatibility with prescription lensesLeveraging the existing collaboration with Zeiss used in the Vision Pro. As with other devices with integrated cameras, there will be a Visible LED indicating when recording is in progress or taking photos, to avoid privacy controversies.
What features would Apple's smart glasses have?
Apple usually launches its first generations with a A very focused but highly polished set of featuresAnd it keeps expanding its possibilities over time. These glasses don't seem likely to be an exception, so we can expect them to arrive without everything we could possibly imagine… but with the basics very well done.
Among the capabilities that have been leaked most frequently, the following stand out: principal functionsdesigned for everyday use:
- Photography and Video: photo capture and video recording, including spatial video, with controls via simple gestures on the rods (taps, swipes) and voice commands with Siri.
- Integrated audioSpeakers in the temples that allow you to listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks and use hands-free calling without having to take the iPhone out of your pocket.
- Assisted navigationVoice-guided directions for getting around town or driving, replacing the classic habit of constantly looking at your mobile phone screen.
- Visual Intelligence / Apple IntelligenceThe cameras would send what they see to the AI ​​system to identify objects, places, plants, animals, or products, returning contextual answers about what's in front of you.
- Real-time translation: virtually instantaneous interpretation of conversations in another language, relying on AI and the audio of the glasses, in the style of what Apple already promises with the AirPods.
- Basic Messaging: sending and receiving messages by voice, discreet reading of important notifications, and hands-free quick reply options.
- Integration with the Apple ecosystem: compatibility with Search, Apple Music, device location features, and potentially health and activity data if appropriate sensors are added.
All of this fits quite well with the idea that The glasses act as a "pocket companion" to the iPhone., focused on camera and audio, and with AI as the glue between what you see, what you hear and what you need to know at any given moment.
Internal architecture: chip, iPhone dependency, and no screen in the first generation
The first batch of glasses wouldn't feature a screen integrated into the lenses, at least according to the most reliable reports. Instead, Apple has reportedly decided launch a model without a display, lighter and with less complexityand reserve the "pure and simple" visual augmented reality for a second version.
These glasses would fit a custom chip derived from the Apple Watch architectureenough to control sensors, audio, camera and some local functions, but much of the heavy processing (AI, advanced playback, etc.) would be delegated to the connected iPhone.
It's a continuation of the approach taken by the first Apple Watch, which also I relied heavily on the iPhone for almost everything.The advantage is clear: the glasses can be thinner, lighter, with better battery life and cheaper as if they had to house a chip of the level of an iPhone or an iPad.
In terms of connectivity, it's practically a given that they will need it. Permanent link with the iPhone via Bluetooth and possibly Wi-Fi for some tasks, with low-power wireless communicationThis will make the mobile phone act as the main brain, with the glasses as the interface for camera, audio and sensors always at hand (and sight).
The central role of Siri and the new Apple Intelligence
If the primary control of the device is going to be by voice and simple gestures, Siri becomes an absolutely critical pieceAnd this is where Apple knows it has more work to do, because the current Siri is not up to the task of wearing glasses that have AI constantly in front of your eyes.
The company has already acknowledged that it is Rebuilding Siri with next-generation language modelsTo achieve more natural conversations, context understanding, and the ability to chain together complex tasks. Plans point to a revamped Siri starting in spring 2026, with Apple Intelligence at the heart of the entire experience.
In the context of smart glasses, Siri would have to be able to understand what you see through the cameras, translate languages ​​on the fly, remind you of important information, guide you while you perform a task, control your music, manage notifications and answer complex questions without you having to touch anything.
Without that profound improvement to the assistant, the glasses would be little more than an expensive toy, so The launch schedule is heavily dependent on the maturity of this new Siri. and the Apple Intelligence platform that supports it.
Expected presentation and launch dates
Regarding the timeline, the sources don't always agree perfectly, but they do paint a relatively coherent picture: Announcement around 2026 and commercial launch in 2027 for the first model without a screen.
Mark Gurman (Bloomberg) and Ming-Chi Kuo, two of the most reliable voices on Apple, have been adjusting their predictions. Initially, a possible 2026 launch was mentioned, but over time the idea of ​​[a new product/product] has become more established. separate the presentation from the start of sales, in the style of what happened with the Apple Watch (presented in 2014 and sold in 2015).
The A foldable iPhone is heavily rumored for fall 2026Apple is keen to space out its major product launches to avoid overlap. A presentation of these glasses could be scheduled for late 2026, with sales beginning in early 2027, or even an announcement at WWDC in 2027 if the company wants to focus the event on its extended reality ecosystem.
All of this makes sense if we assume that the The new Siri, based on large language models, should be ready by spring 2026.Apple would need at least a few months to refine the integration with the glasses before launching them to the general public.
Estimated price and positioning compared to Meta and other rivals
One of the factors that will most determine the success or failure of this product is, inevitably, the price. The Ray-Ban Meta starts at around 319 EurosAnd it seems clear that Apple cannot get too carried away if it truly wants to compete in this segment.
The leaks place the target price in a range of 400 to 600eurosThese would likely have different finishes and perhaps slightly different functions depending on the model. We'd be talking about a price range closer to that of AirPods Max or a well-equipped Apple Watch than to an ultra-premium device like the Vision Pro.
If the company manages to maintain the basic model below 500 eurosThe sales potential could be enormous, especially if the glasses are perceived as a practical iPhone accessory and not a niche indulgence. The goal is clearly to move away from the elitist image associated with the Vision Pro.
The main direct rival will be Meta, who has already demonstrated with their Ray-Bans that There is a real demand for glasses with cameras, audio, and AI integration.Apple's response comes a little later, but with the advantage of its ecosystem and tight integration with iPhone, Apple Music, Messages, and the rest of the services.
How do these glasses fit into Apple's full XR roadmap?
The new smart glasses don't arrive alone: ​​they are part of a broader XR product strategy (extended reality) that Apple plans to roll out until at least 2028.
According to the roadmap leaked by leading analysts, the plan includes several key milestones: Vision Pro update with M5 chipThe launch of the first screenless glasses, the subsequent appearance of augmented reality glasses with an integrated display, and a second generation of the truly new Vision Pro around 2028.
In this scheme, the smart glasses that depend on the iPhone would be the intermediate step to accustom the user to wearing computers on their face without the barrier of a heavy and expensive helmet. They would also allow developers to start experimenting with AI-assisted and audio-enabled experiences before making the leap to full visual interfaces on transparent glass.
At the same time, Apple continues working on the Vision Pro, although it's no longer their top priority. The new version with the M5 chip is expected to improve the refresh rate (up to 120 Hz), battery life, and AI capabilities for tasks such as People (realistic avatars) or conversion of photos to spatial contentAll this while slowly moving towards a second generation that is lighter, with better materials and a state-of-the-art Mac chip.
Reminder: This is what the Apple Vision Pro looks like today
While we wait for smart glasses, the Apple's visible XR product remains the Vision ProThese are mixed reality glasses that blend augmented, virtual, and extended reality, allowing you to overlay apps and digital content onto your living room or immerse yourself in completely virtual environments.
The viewer has a aesthetics very similar to high-end ski gogglesIt features a laminated glass front, an aluminum chassis, and a textile headband system that distributes the weight. Inside, there are two micro-OLED screens with a stunning resolution, totaling around 23 million pixels per eye, and a wide field of view that combines with a digital crown (similar to that of the Apple Watch) to control the degree of immersion.
In the first generation, the heart of the system is made up of two chips: the M2 and the R1The M2 handles general processing, while the R1 is dedicated to processing signals from all cameras, sensors, and microphones in just milliseconds, for the most immediate experience possible.
For those who wear prescription glasses, Apple offers Zeiss-specific lenses that attach magneticallyThe power comes from an external battery connected by cable that you can carry in your pocket or hang from your belt, with around two hours of standard use or a little more if you only watch video.
Control, displays, cameras and sensors in Vision Pro
One of the most striking features of the Vision Pro is that It does not require physical controlsEverything is controlled with your gaze, hand gestures, and voice. Internal cameras track your eyes to determine which part of the interface you're focusing on, and a simple pinch gesture is all it takes to select items or navigate virtual screens.
The indoor screens have such a high pixel density that It is impossible to distinguish them with the naked eyeEach panel is around 3.660 x 3.200 pixels in just 27,5 x 24 mm, resulting in densities greater than 3.300 ppi, far exceeding the effective resolution of a 4K television per eye.
In addition, the viewer integrates a outdoor screen called EyeSight It can display a representation of your eyes to those around you, indicating how immersed you are. It's a way to soften the social barrier of wearing an opaque helmet.
In terms of sensors, the Vision Pro mounts 12 cameras, six microphones, and five sensors managed by visionOS. It includes 3D cameras for spatial photos and videos, environment tracking cameras, four dedicated eye-tracking cameras, a TrueDepth module to scan your face, a LiDAR sensor, and several inertial measurement units to accurately track your physical movements.
Optic ID, battery and availability of the Vision Pro
For authentication, Apple has created Optic ID, a new iris-based biometric systemThe viewer scans your unique eye pattern to unlock the device, authorize purchases, or access passwords, with all data encrypted and confined to the Secure Enclave.
The external battery is around 3.166 mAh and offers about two hours of general usewhich can last up to two and a half hours when playing 2D video. If you connect it to a power source via USB-C, you can use the Vision Pro without a time limit, which makes more sense in work environments or at home.
The official price in the United States starts from $ 3.499 before taxAnd in some European countries where it's been released, the price rises to around €3.699. For now, the product isn't available in Spain, and there's no indication that this first generation will arrive, so we'll most likely have to wait for a future revision.
For the time being, the Vision Pro is available in one limited list of markets such as the United States, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan, among other selected countries.
Real-world use of Vision Pro: work, leisure, and marketing
Apple sells the Vision Pro as a a space computer capable of replacing an iPad or even a desktop monitorApple and third-party productivity apps (Safari, Maps, Messages, Freeform, the Microsoft suite, etc.) have been adapted to open as floating windows in your physical environment.
At work, the device allows three-dimensional meetings with FaceTimewith the participants represented in tiles and spatial sound that places each person at a point in the virtual space. It can also be used as a giant screen for your Mac, allowing you to type on the physical keyboard while viewing a huge virtual monitor in front of you.
In education and training, the possibilities include immersive classrooms, machinery simulations, virtual tours and much more visual learning environments. From human anatomy to geographical maps, virtually any content can be enriched with 3D models.
In leisure activities, the Vision Pro relies on Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and streaming platforms to offer cinema and VR games immersive. There's talk of over 100 compatible Apple Arcade titles, support for console controllers, and experiences designed specifically for mixed reality.
With everything that's happening, Apple's extended reality landscape looks more complete than ever: on one hand, a Vision Pro that acts as an innovation lab and cutting-edge product; on the other, Future smart glasses that are lighter, more discreet, and more affordable aimed at the everyday user. If the company succeeds in combining attractive design, reasonable price, and deep integration with Siri and Apple AI, it's quite likely that these glasses will end up being the true game-changer that the Vision Pro has yet to achieve.
