Apple Expected to Unveil Smart Glasses and Camera-Equipped AirPods Inspired by Meta by 2027

Apple is rumored to be working on a number of new vision-based products that are set for release at some point in the near future, such as smart glasses and perhaps even AirPods with cameras. These new devices are set to follow the trend, and according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, they will reportedly look like Meta’s hit Ray-Ban collab. They won’t be coming until well after 2027, a projection more than five years into the future.

Apple to Unveil Smart Glasses Soon?

These products are still in the development stage, and there’s always a chance they may not see daylight. Apple has been dabbling in wearable tech and AR to improve its user experience, but for top-of-the-line models, customers must still wait. This hints to Apple’s future plans — the company no doubt sees itself at the cutting edge of technology under Tim Cook.

Apple is looking to get its multibillion-dollar cash outlays for the Apple Vision Pro’s visual intelligence investment back through all products. The firm also wants to follow-up on the iPhone 16 camera controls announcement with smart glasses that include cameras, speakers, and microphones, similar to Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses starting at $299. These glasses will not offer full-blown augmented reality (AR) displays but should take advantage of visual intelligence and help us with varied functionalities.

Apple also has its sights set on AirPods with cameras, moving the needle seemingly toward an idea previously discussed in earlier rumors. At the same time, it’s not clear how practical outward-facing cameras on earbuds might be road-blocked by privacy concerns. However, Apple is still playing with this form factor as a way to house visual intelligence features.

Apple may also be trying to maximize its R&D dollars, by going after visual intelligence scale across product lines. The move could help establish the company further as a market leader in wearables and augmented reality. More interestingly, these smart glasses themselves represent a good opportunity in particular, that has been validated by the collective success of Meta’s experiment with Ray-Ban.

It develops these as part of Apple’s innovation initiative and the company’s continued mission to make everything work in tandem with one another. As Apple pushes the boundaries of wearable technology, consumers can expect more sophisticated and integrated devices in the future. With Apple’s reputation for refinement and design, these emerging products are likely to generate significant interest when they finally arrive, anticipated no earlier than 2027.

FAQs