For several years, rumors suggested that Apple would follow its mixed reality AR/VR headset with a set of lighter weight augmented reality "Apple Glasses" that would launch sometime around 2024.
Rumors have shifted and the Apple Glasses project is on hold, though Apple still has plans to release the technology in the future. This guide aggregates everything that we know about the Apple Glasses so far, but be warned that this is a project that is several years out.
Apple Glasses Design
The Apple Glasses are supposed to be more of an everyday wearable product than the headset, and they will resemble traditional glasses.
The glasses are said to look similar to regular glasses, with lenses that have built-in displays that can be interacted with using gestures.
Apple was rumored to be planning to use Sony's microOLED displays that feature an ultra-fast response rate, ultra-high contrast, a wide color gamut, high luminance, low reflectance, and integrated drivers for a thin and light design.
Leaker Jon Prosser claimed that the glasses will look similar to Ray-Ban Wayfarers or the glasses that Tim Cook wears, while Bloomberg said a prototype Apple developed resembles high-end sunglasses with thick frames that house the battery and chips.
iPhone Reliance
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested the Apple Glasses would be marketed as an iPhone accessory, serving as a connected display while offloading computing, networking, and positioning to the iPhone.
Cost
Apple was said to be planning to sell the glasses for somewhere around $499, with prescription lenses available for an additional cost.
Development Delay
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has postponed development on the Apple Glasses because of technical difficulties. Apple has not been able to develop the hardware required for a lightweight wearable with the power of an iPhone and enough battery life to run it.
Work on the device has been scaled back, but has not been stopped entirely. Apple is said to see the Apple Glasses as a product that could one day replace the iPhone.
Launch Date
The Apple Glasses are expected to launch in 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, according to Kuo. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that a launch is at least four years away.
