Apple is developing display-free smart glasses designed to compete with Meta’s Ray-Ban-style wearables, according to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman cited by mint. The report indicates Apple has internally codnamed the glasses “N50” and is testing at least four different frame designs—an approach that emphasizes how much of the product’s differentiation is expected to come from form factor, materials, and the software integration with Apple Intelligence.
Four frame styles in testing, with a 2027 target release
According to the report, Apple could unveil its smart glasses by the end of this year or in early next year, with the actual release date targeted for 2027. The glasses are described as display-free, aligning them with Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses rather than conventional headsets that rely on visible displays.
Apple’s internal development includes a design process with multiple form factors. The report states Apple’s design team has created at least four different styles and plans to launch them in multiple color options. The frames are described as being made of acetate, a material noted as more durable and more premium than standard plastic used by most brands.
While the report does not detail each of the four designs individually, the emphasis on multiple frame styles indicates that Apple is treating the wearable’s physical design as a key variable during development—likely to balance comfort, durability, and integration with the broader system.
Siri-powered features: photos, calls, music, notifications, and voice interaction
The report describes Apple’s smart glasses as addressing everyday user requirements. These functions reportedly include capturing photos and videos, syncing with an iPhone for editing and sharing, handling phone calls, listening to music, receiving notifications, and hands-free voice interaction.
The voice assistant is reported to be an upcoming version of Siri, which could be revealed with iOS 27 in June. This timing is significant for how the glasses’ software experience could be structured: the glasses may depend on a newer Siri foundation delivered through the iPhone operating system rather than relying solely on on-device processing.
The described workflow—capture on glasses, edit and share via iPhone—suggests a design where the wearable functions as a sensor-and-input device, while the phone serves as the primary compute and distribution hub.
Computer vision and Apple Intelligence: contextual awareness features
The smart glasses are described as part of a three-pronged AI wearables strategy that also includes new AirPods and a camera-equipped pendant. The report states each of these devices is designed to leverage computer vision to interpret the user’s surroundings and provide contextual awareness to Apple Intelligence.
The report points to specific feature examples expected from this approach: improved turn-by-turn map directions and visual reminders. The emphasis on computer vision indicates that the glasses’ core differentiation may center on understanding what the user is looking at and translating that into assistance, rather than relying on a visible display.
The stated reliance on Apple Intelligence suggests the glasses experience may be integrated with the broader Apple AI ecosystem, potentially shaping how quickly new capabilities arrive through iOS releases and Apple Intelligence updates.
In-house design strategy and manufacturing approach
The report contrasts Apple’s plan with other companies’ approaches to smart glasses design. Unlike Meta, which relies heavily on its partnership with EssilorLuxottica, Apple is said to be planning to handle the design of its smart glasses entirely in-house to offer higher-end build quality.
This approach differs from Google and Samsung, which are using Warby Parker for frames. Apple’s in-house approach could affect how the company iterates on hardware form factors: changes to materials, hinge design, weight distribution, and accessory ecosystems may be controlled within Apple’s engineering cycle rather than coordinated through a third-party partner.
From a strategy perspective, this could allow Apple to reduce constraints that come with external frame supply decisions—particularly relevant when testing multiple frame styles and targeting multiple color options. The in-house approach may also be important given the display-free design, where mechanical design and user interaction with audio and voice input become central to usability.
Source: mint – technology