Key Highlights
- Apple is evaluating four different frame designs for its AI smart glasses, known internally by the codename N50.
- Frame options span rectangular, oval, and circular styles with finishes in black, ocean blue, and light brown.
- The company is developing a distinctive vertically oriented oval camera lens surrounded by integrated lights.
- Acetate material will form the frame body, offering superior durability and premium aesthetics.
- Apple aims to reveal the product between late 2026 and early 2027, with shipments planned for late 2027.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is advancing development of its inaugural AI-powered smart glasses while evaluating four separate frame designs.
The frame selection includes a large rectangular design reminiscent of Ray-Ban Wayfarers, a narrower rectangular variant, plus two oval or circular alternatives in different sizes. The narrower rectangular style reportedly mirrors the eyewear worn by CEO Tim Cook.
Multiple color options are in development, spanning black, ocean blue, and light brown tones. Apple is constructing the primary frame structure from acetate, a material that delivers enhanced durability and a premium feel compared to conventional plastic used by rival manufacturers.
The internal designation for this product is N50.
Distinctive Camera Technology in Development
Among the notable design elements Apple is pursuing is a camera configuration featuring vertically oriented oval lenses with integrated surrounding illumination. This approach diverges from the circular camera arrangement found in Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.
The camera system will enable both photo and video recording capabilities. Integrated microphones and speakers will facilitate phone calls, music playback, and notification alerts.
A multimodal AI system will drive the glasses’ functionality, incorporating Siri integration and visual intelligence capabilities. Augmented reality features will remain absent from this product — Apple is developing a separate AR glasses device with built-in displays, though that project has a more distant timeline.
Challenging Meta’s Market Position
Meta holds the leading position in the smart glasses category. The market segment expanded 139% year-over-year during the second half of 2025, with Meta’s product range accounting for the majority of that expansion, per Counterpoint Research data.
Apple’s strategy centers on developing an immediately identifiable product that differentiates itself from existing market offerings.
Gurman observed that with proper execution — especially regarding Siri functionality — the glasses could replicate the Apple Watch trajectory: arriving after competitors but ultimately achieving market dominance.
Apple has multiple AI-focused hardware products in its pipeline. The company’s roadmap includes a foldable iPhone scheduled for September 2026, camera-equipped AirPods, a smart home display device, and a wearable pendant accessory.
The smart glasses announcement is scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027, with initial shipments targeting the end of 2027.
