Apple's Smart Glasses With In-Lens Display May Feature Two Modes

Apple's second-generation smart glasses with an in-lens display may have two modes, depending on which device they are connected to.

Meta Ray Ban GlassesMeta Ray-Bans without an in-lens display

In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he was told a future version of Apple's smart glasses may be able to run a full version of the visionOS operating system when they are paired with a Mac, and then switch to a more lightweight, mobile-friendly interface when they are paired with an iPhone.

Apple's smart glasses would compete with the Meta Ray-Bans, which are now available with an in-lens display (pricing starts at $799 in the United States). However, Gurman previously said Apple's first version of smart glasses will not offer an in-lens display.

Apple's first smart glasses will have speakers for music playback, cameras for photos and video, voice control, and potentially health features, according to Gurman.

He previously said Apple may announce the first-generation glasses as early as 2026, ahead of a 2027 launch.

MacRumors x Bloomberg Banner Cool

Popular Stories

airpods pro 3 purple

New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year

Tuesday January 20, 2026 9:05 am PST by
Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest. Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major...
smaller dynamic island iphone 18 pro Filip Vabrous%CC%8Cek

iPhone 18 Pro Leak: Smaller Dynamic Island, No Top-Left Camera Cutout

Tuesday January 20, 2026 2:34 am PST by
Over the last few months, rumors around the iPhone 18 Pro's front-panel design have been conflicted, with some supply-chain leaks pointing to under-display Face ID, reports suggesting a top-left hole-punch camera, and debate over whether the familiar Dynamic Island will shrink, shift, or disappear entirely. Today, Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital shared new details that appear to clarify the ...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple Expected to Unveil Five All-New Products This Year

Wednesday January 21, 2026 10:54 am PST by
In addition to updating many of its existing products, Apple is expected to unveil five all-new products this year, including a smart home hub, a Face ID doorbell, a MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, a foldable iPhone, and augmented reality glasses. Below, we have recapped rumored features for each product. Smart Home Hub Apple home hub (concept) Apple's long-rumored smart home hub should...
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

App Store and Apple TV Experiencing Outage

Tuesday January 20, 2026 4:36 pm PST by
Apple's App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple TV service are experiencing an outage at the current time, according to Apple's System Status page. Apple says that some users may be experiencing issues with the App Store and iTunes Store. Apple also says some users may be seeing intermittent issues with Apple TV. The Apple TV Channels feature is down too, and users may be unable to access some...
airtag prime day 2

Apple Developing AirTag-Sized AI Pin With Dual Cameras

Wednesday January 21, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
Apple is working on a small, wearable AI pin equipped with multiple cameras, a speaker, and microphones, reports The Information. If it actually launches, the AI pin will likely run the new Siri chatbot that Apple plans to unveil in iOS 27. The pin is said to be similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, flat, circular disc shape. It has an aluminum and glass shell, and two cameras at the...

Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
15 weeks ago
If they aren't coming until 2027, they need to launch with an in-lens display.
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kottu Avatar
15 weeks ago
Make it truly smart by adding features like automatic vision correction, so users wouldn’t need prescription lenses. I’d buy it even if it cost over $2000.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sowelu Avatar
15 weeks ago
Can't wait for the masses and (desperate for clicks and views) content creators to have the ability to take undercover, hands-free, high-resolution photos and videos of just about anyone (and anywhere) without their consent. Sure, people do that now with their smartphones, but this makes spying even easier, especially as technology advances and these glasses will just look like regular glasses with cameras you can't see from a short distance.

Considering what an unchecked social media and their trillion dollar company's algorithmic control did to the human mind and spirit over the last decade (plus), and where it took us, in addition to unregulated and rapidly growing AI, and on top of the continuation of out of control consolidation of corporate power and wealth, I can't wait see what Smart Glasses technology does to take us further down this spiral.

Now, get off my lawn!
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
originalsk Avatar
15 weeks ago
Kind of shocked how is Apple behind in development. Where Meta needs separate control band, Apple could have already used massive user base of Apple Watch to develop more gestures. Considering how many people already wear dioptric glasses, this project makes much more sense to me than some VR headset.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klowy79 Avatar
15 weeks ago
I'm not holding my breath. 2028 seems like the earliest. They are far behind on pretty much everything. Under Tim Cook Apple is a mess. Apple Car, a bust. Vision Pro, not a product but a proof of concept that you can buy. Mac Pro, missing in action. A pretty sad state of affairs IMHO.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple-achian Avatar
15 weeks ago
To all the critical know-it-alls ITT, remember that you can't rush perfection. Apple's implementation of smart glasses will not only define the technology, it will replace normal spectacles. I am already saving up for 2037, Apple smart contacts.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)