Apple Is Testing Four AI Smart Glasses Designs With Oval Cameras and Acetate Frames
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is testing about four distinct frame styles for its upcoming AI smart glasses, building toward a product reveal as soon as late 2026 and a consumer launch in 2027 to rival Meta's Ray-Ban lineup.
Apple is now in active prototype testing for its first AI-powered smart glasses, with at least four distinct frame designs currently under evaluation, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his April 12, 2026, Power On newsletter.
The product, internally code-named N50, is on track for a reveal at the end of 2026 or in early 2027, with consumer availability targeted for 2027.
As Gurman reported, Apple aims to rival Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses while leveraging its design capabilities, iPhone ecosystem integration, and premium materials to create a smart wearable that is simply better made.
Four Designs, One Product Strategy
The breadth of design work underway signals Apple’s intent to avoid the fit-and-fashion mismatches that can limit early hardware adoption.
As TechCrunch reports, Apple Inc. is actively prototyping four distinct frame directions:
- Classic mass-market anchor: Large rectangular design inspired by Ray-Ban Wayfarer
- Executive minimalism: Slim rectangular profile aligned with Tim Cook’s understated style
- Statement form factor: Larger oval or circular frame targeting visual differentiation
- Refined everyday wear: Smaller oval or circular option focused on comfort and subtlety
Apple Inc. is evaluating multiple color finishes across these styles, with black, ocean blue, and light brown currently in testing.
Rather than partnering with an established eyewear brand, as Meta did with EssilorLuxottica for Ray-Ban, and as Google and Samsung have explored with Warby Parker, Apple is designing the frames entirely in-house.
According to Mark Gurman, the internal goal at Apple Inc. is to create an “icon”; a silhouette instantly recognizable as Apple’s, much like AirPods and Apple Watch series established signature visual identities for the brand.
The Camera System and Material Choice
Two technical decisions stand out as deliberate differentiators. First, Apple is opting for acetate over standard plastic for the frame body.
As Tom’s Guide notes, acetate is both durable and luxurious, commonly used in premium eyewear for its richer feel, better color retention, and the way it ages more gracefully than injection-molded plastic.
The choice signals a clear positioning: not a tech gadget shaped like glasses, but premium eyewear that integrates technology.
The second differentiator is the camera design. Apple’s cameras will be arranged in a vertically oriented oval pattern, surrounded by LED indicator lights.
This moves away from the circular lens setup used by Meta Platforms’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, for which it’s testing the facial recognition features, while also serving a dual purpose: a distinct visual identity and a clear privacy signal when the cameras are active.
Gurman noted this oval arrangement is a key part of how Apple intends the product to look instantly different on a shelf and on a face.
What These Glasses Will Actually Do
The N50 glasses will not include a display.
As Tom’s Guide reports, they are not augmented reality glasses but display-free devices built for everyday use, combining cameras for photos and video capture, microphones and speakers for calls and music, and sensors that feed contextual data into Apple Intelligence and Siri.
The feature set is built around iPhone integration rather than standalone operation: notifications relayed from an iPhone, hands-free Siri access, turn-by-turn directions, live language translation, and visual intelligence capabilities that interpret the user’s surroundings.
The report confirms that much of the functionality depends on an upgraded Siri expected with iOS 27, bringing deeper contextual awareness.
Meanwhile, as Mark Gurman reports, fully AR-capable glasses with built-in displays are still in development and remain several years away from consumer release.
A Leadership Transition and a Shifting AI Strategy
Gurman’s April 12 newsletter also reported that John Giannandrea, Apple’s longtime AI chief, is in his final official week at the company after shifting to an advisory role following his 2025 retirement announcement.
Reports also confirm that he is expected to leave Apple Park shortly. His departure aligns with a significant strategic shift in Apple’s AI direction as the company moves toward an App Store-style platform model for artificial intelligence.
The smart glasses project is part of a wider three-part wearable plan that also includes camera-equipped AirPods and a wearable camera pendant.
Each device, according to Gurman, is designed to work together to build contextual awareness for Siri and Apple Intelligence across the user’s environment.
Source: Apple AI Glasses Will Rival Meta’s With Several Styles, Oval Cameras
