Apple Accelerates Smart Glasses Development to Challenge Meta’s AI Wearable Dominance

Tech giant Apple is ramping up development of its long-rumored smart glasses—pushing to outpace Meta in the race for AI-powered wearables.

The Battle for Your Face

Apple's secretive project has shifted into high gear, with internal teams working overtime to deliver a device that could redefine augmented reality. Sources indicate the glasses will integrate Apple's proprietary AI systems—potentially leaving Meta's current offerings looking like yesterday's technology.

Why This Matters Now

With Meta already establishing beachheads in the wearable AI space, Apple can't afford to be late to another paradigm-shifting market. The company that controls your visual field controls your digital life—and the revenue streams that follow.

Market analysts whisper about Apple's typical strategy: arrive fashionably late but perfectly dressed. Though given their recent track record of playing catch-up in AI, maybe they should focus less on being fashionable and more on being functional.

One thing's certain: when these tech titans clash over your eyeballs, your wallet inevitably becomes collateral damage.

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The rumored “Vision Air,” a lighter and more budget-friendly headset previously anticipated for a 2027 launch, is now effectively shelved. Engineers from that project are being transitioned to focus on the smart glasses.

Apple Eyes 2027 Launch

Apple is developing a set of smart glasses featuring cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities. The tech giant is now aiming to reveal the new glasses as soon as next year, with a potential launch expected in 2027.

The first version of the smart glasses is expected to offer voice control, AI help, and health tracking, but no display. It means that this model will connect to an iPhone for display and processing.

Interestingly, the company is also working on a second model with a display that may be launched in 2028. This product WOULD directly compete with Meta’s glasses.

Importantly, Apple’s move into smart glasses, which rely on voice interaction and AI, comes as the company works to improve its past performance in those areas. The iPhone Maker has faced setbacks with its slow Apple Intelligence rollout and delays in upgrading Siri.

However, AAPL is counting on a new version of Siri, coming early next year, to run its smart glasses and other upcoming devices.

Is Apple a Buy, Sell, or Hold?

Turning to Wall Street, Apple stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 18 Buys, 14 Holds, and two Sells assigned in the last three months. At $253.27, the average AAPL stock price target implies a limited downside risk of 0.85%.