Apple is planning to release smart glasses late next year with a reveal at WWDC 27 in June, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
2027 could be the year of AI wearables at Apple, headlined by the rumoured smart glasses that feature Siri AI and deep integration with the iPhone App Store.
In a new report from Mark Gurman, Apple's next big thing is coming next year with a custom version of visionOS, chips derived from the S-series seen on the Apple Watch and Wi-Fi connectivity for some independence from the iPhone.
The smart glasses are reportedly thinner than the latest-generation Meta Ray-bans, which look pretty much identical to your usual pair of glasses, and do feature a camera.
The functionality of the camera is still unknown, as Apple could take a privacy-first stance with their glasses and not allow the user to take photo or video. Instead, the lens could be reserved purely for Siri AI and spatial awareness. Gurman has reported the glasses will support Visual Intelligence, but made no mention of photography or video on Apple's smart glasses.
This product line is not expected to be Augmented Reality like the Vision Pro, which overlays digital content in the real world. Instead, Gurman has reported that those inside Apple call the device "AirPods for your face".
This suggests that wearing the glasses could be a very similar experience to AirPods, where Siri can announce notifications, play media or the user can use their voice to take action such as send a notification or ask a question.
So what's the difference between the rumoured glasses and AirPods?
When you're discussing these two product lines, they clearly do not belong in the same category. AirPods are earbuds for listening to music, and glasses can be a much more visual tool with a screen. But, if Apple takes the route of no screen, they will offer the same or very similar capabilities as a pair of AirPods.
AirPods can already announce notifications, take in-app actions by voice command such as sending a message and are set to also receive Visual Intelligence next September so that you can ask about your surroundings.
The product that Mark Gurman is discussing, sounds just like a different form factor of AirPods. However, as he does point out, this is not necessarily a bad thing.
Glasses can be worn all day and provide Siri AI a way to see the world as you do, making it potentially a much more useful assistant. Yes, AirPods with cameras could also do this, but you're less likely to wear AirPods all day. Additionally, AirPods with cameras when you have long hair would be pretty much useless, they would likely have less battery life and from a social perspective, wearing AirPods all day would make it appear that you are not listening or engaging with others, a problem that glasses do not have.
Apple loves proprietary connectors
In 2023 new EU legislation killed Apple's beloved Lightning connector. Apple had to ditch its proprietary connector for standard USB-C, but in 2027 Apple could be bringing back proprietary for its smart glasses.
Bloomberg reports that Apple's smart glasses will charge with a 3-pin magnetic connector that is pill-shaped and attached to the tip of the left-arm of the glasses. I'm imagining a smaller version of MagSafe 3, which is found on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
This positioning reportedly allows the device to be worn whilst charging, which is hopefully not foreshadowing an external battery pack like the Vision Pro.
Charging will be indicated with a light on the front, the same light that will glow when the camera is in use.
Software Delays
Software delays have become a common theme with Apple in recent years. In many cases, the hardware is ready to go but has to wait for the software to catch up. This has been evident with releases in 2026, as the all-new Apple HomeView shipped with HomeView Software 26.5, a version of software that released months before the device was even announced.
Additionally, new HomePod mini and Apple TV devices finally released this year despite reportedly being ready at least a year ago waiting for Siri AI.
The smart glasses could be the same story.
Gurman says that:
The glasses project has been in development since the early 2020s, and much of the hardware has been finalized. The company is just waiting for its software and AI capabilities to catch up.
He does say that the plan to unveil the glasses at WWDC27, which is currently 8 months away, is still in place for now but that "delays are possible".
This means that there is still a chance they are not announced at the developers conference in June, and might still be a year away.
Final Thoughts
2027 is shaping up to be a big year for Apple, arguably bigger than 2026 which has already been transformational for the company.
With smart glasses headlining next year's lineup, followed by camera-equipped AirPods, the second-generation iPhone Duo and 20th anniversary of the iPhone, let's just hope the software team and Siri AI can keep up.
