Apple Continues Development of Smart Glasses Without Display

Apple is reportedly advancing its internal project for smart glasses, drawing inspiration from similar initiatives by Meta. According to reports, the tech giant is exploring the creation of smart glasses that resemble the Meta Ray-Ban models, which have been significantly successful in the market. Apple aims to deliver audio quality comparable to that of its AirPods, potentially paving the way for a highly popular product.

The company has been pursuing this concept since at least 2024. Recently, Apple canceled an internal project that involved connecting a display-sized device to a Mac or iPhone, opting instead for the simpler design of smart glasses. The Meta Ray-Ban models integrate artificial intelligence technology, cameras, speakers, and microphones into a standard pair of glasses, enabling users to take photos, record videos, and interact with the Meta AI assistant, at least in the United States.

Internally, Apple is still discussing the possibility of developing its version of the Ray-Ban glasses. While such a product would not qualify as a true augmented reality device, it would still provide a satisfactory user experience through its built-in AI capabilities. Additionally, Apple is concurrently working on AirPods that incorporate a camera, although the current status of this project remains unclear.

Apple's existing headset, the Vision Pro, has faced criticism for being excessively large, heavy, and expensive, despite offering groundbreaking technology. Acknowledging these shortcomings, Apple appears to be shifting its focus towards creating lighter and more affordable devices, a process that may take several years. The proposed smart glasses could serve as a viable alternative to the Meta Ray-Ban glasses.

However, challenges persist. Apple's voice assistant, Siri, has not yet reached the level of competing AI assistants, with recent reports indicating that many new features for Siri will be postponed until next year.