Apple said to be testing four different smart glasses designs

Apple is reportedly working on its first pair of smart glasses, with plans to bring the product to market in 2027 and a potential preview as early as the end of this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Gurman, who has been consistently covering Apple's progress in this category, has now shared additional insight into the possible design direction. According to his latest report, Apple is currently experimenting with four design variations and may launch one or more versions depending on final decisions.

The designs under consideration reportedly include a large rectangular frame, a slimmer rectangular version similar to the style worn by Apple CEO Tim Cook, a larger oval or circular frame, and a smaller oval or circular frame. In addition to shape variations, the company is also exploring multiple colour options, including black, ocean blue, and light brown.

In certain respects, these smart glasses appear to represent a shift away from Apple's earlier, more ambitious vision of releasing a broad range of mixed- and augmented-reality devices. That broader strategy has already faced setbacks, including delays and a muted response to the Apple Vision Pro.

The upcoming glasses, however, are expected to follow a more practical, streamlined approach, similar to offerings like Meta's Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Reports suggest that Apple's glasses will not include built-in displays. Instead, they will focus on features such as capturing photos and videos — potentially using oval-shaped camera lenses — as well as enabling phone calls, music playback, and interaction with the anticipated upgrade to Siri.

Overall, the product appears to be positioned as a more accessible entry point to wearable technology, emphasising everyday utility over the more complex immersive experiences associated with full augmented reality devices.