Apple is pushing ahead with plans to launch its first pair of smart glasses, along with an AI-powered pendant and camera-equipped AirPods, according to a report from Bloombergâs Mark Gurman. The three devices come with built-in cameras and will connect to the iPhone, allowing Siri to use âvisual context to carry out actions,â Bloomberg reports.
Apple is reportedly aiming to start production of its smart glasses in December, ahead of a 2027 launch. The new device will compete directly with Metaâs lineup of smart glasses and is rumored to feature speakers, microphones, and a high-resolution camera for taking photos and videos, in addition to another lens designed to enable AI-powered features.
The glasses wonât have a built-in display, but they will allow users to make phone calls, interact with Siri, play music, and âtake actions based on surroundings,â such as asking about the ingredients in a meal, according to Bloomberg. Appleâs smart glasses could also help users identify what theyâre seeing, reference landmarks when offering directions, and remind wearers to complete a task in specific situations, Bloomberg reports.
The company is reportedly planning to develop the frames for the smart glasses in-house, instead of partnering with a third-party company like Meta does with Ray-Ban and Oakley. Prototypes of the glasses use a cable to connect to a battery pack and an iPhone, but Bloomberg reports that ânewer versions have the components embedded in the frame.â Apple reportedly wants to make its smart glasses stand out by offering a high-quality build and advanced camera technology. The company is still working on AI-powered smart glasses with a display, though their launch âremains many years away,â Bloomberg says.
Appleâs plans for AI hardware donât end there, as the company is expected to build upon its Google Gemini-powered Siri upgrade with an AirTag-sized AI pendant that people can either wear as a necklace or a pin. This device would âessentially serve as an always-on cameraâ for the iPhone and has a microphone for prompting Siri, Bloomberg reports. The pendant, which The Information first reported on last month, is rumored to come with a built-in chip, but will mainly rely on the iPhoneâs processing power. The device could arrive as early as next year, according to Bloomberg.
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