Apple is experimenting with four different frame designs for a pair of smart glasses, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who reported in April 2026 that the company is testing two rectangular shapes and two oval or circular options. Each prototype reportedly uses premium materials and comes in multiple color choices. If any of these designs reach production, they would mark Apple’s first direct entry into AI-powered eyewear, a category Meta and its manufacturing partner EssilorLuxottica have been building since 2021.
Four frames, one big question
The reported lineup includes a large Wayfarer-style rectangular frame, a slimmer rectangular variant, a larger oval or circular design, and a smaller oval or circular option. That spread mirrors how traditional eyewear brands structure collections, balancing classic silhouettes with trendier shapes to cover a range of face types and style preferences.
Some reports suggest Apple could stagger releases rather than launch all four at once, potentially treating certain shapes or colors as later additions. But Apple has not confirmed any of these details through its own channels, and no leaked internal documents, patent filings, or supply-chain records have surfaced to independently verify the claims.
That matters because Apple is known for testing hardware concepts that never ship. The company’s extended development of Vision Pro, which reportedly cycled through numerous internal configurations before its 2024 launch, shows how far early prototypes can sit from a finished product.
Where Meta already has a head start
While Apple is still in the testing phase, Meta already has smart glasses on store shelves. The company’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the parent company behind Ray-Ban and Oakley, has produced multiple generations of camera-equipped, AI-enabled frames since the original Ray-Ban Stories launched in 2021.
In September 2025, EssilorLuxottica announced an expanded lineup with Meta that includes models with a built-in display and support for prescription lenses. The company’s investor materials frame the collaboration not as a side experiment but as a pillar of its long-term strategy, one that blends Meta’s AI software with EssilorLuxottica’s global retail footprint and manufacturing scale.
Meta has also publicly demonstrated next-generation hardware at its Connect developer conference, including smart glasses with a display element and a prototype neural wristband that reads electrical signals from the wearer’s arm. Associated Press coverage of the event documented specific pricing and release windows, giving Meta a concrete, public product roadmap that Apple has not yet matched.
Pricing, features, and the unknowns
No source has attached a firm price to Apple’s glasses. The mention of premium materials, which could include metal frames, high-quality acetate, or advanced lens coatings, hints at a higher price point, but whether Apple aims to compete near Meta’s existing price range or position its glasses as a more expensive, early-adopter product remains unclear.
Feature overlap is equally uncertain. Calling Apple’s project a “rival” to Meta’s Ray-Bans assumes the glasses will ship with comparable capabilities: cameras, open-ear speakers, microphones, and deep AI integration. Apple could instead lean into different strengths, such as tight integration with the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods ecosystem, or prioritize privacy-focused design, a selling point that would draw a sharp contrast with Meta’s data-driven business model. Apple’s on-device AI push through Apple Intelligence, introduced in 2024, could also give its glasses a distinct identity if Siri and visual-search features run locally rather than relying on cloud processing.
No executive from Apple, Meta, or EssilorLuxottica has publicly framed Apple’s rumored glasses as a direct response to Meta’s products, and no on-the-record statements compare the two efforts.
Why the frame variety matters
One lesson Meta and EssilorLuxottica learned early is that consumers are far more willing to wear smart glasses when they look like regular eyewear. The original Ray-Ban Stories launched in a limited set of styles, and adoption was slow. As Meta expanded the frame options and improved the AI features, sales picked up noticeably.
By reportedly testing four distinct silhouettes from the start, Apple appears to be absorbing that lesson. Offering a range of shapes and colors from day one could help the company avoid the slow-build problem and appeal to buyers who treat eyewear as a fashion statement, not just a gadget. It also fits Apple’s broader playbook: the Apple Watch launched with multiple case sizes, band options, and materials, turning a tech product into a personal accessory.
Still, prototype diversity does not guarantee product diversity. Apple could easily narrow the lineup to one or two frames, or pivot entirely, before making anything official.
What to watch for next
The competitive landscape right now is lopsided. Meta has shipping products, a clear public roadmap, and a manufacturing partner that controls major eyewear brands and retail channels worldwide. Apple has prototypes and a track record of entering product categories late but with tightly integrated hardware and software that reshapes consumer expectations. The Apple Watch followed that pattern, arriving years after early smartwatches from Samsung and Pebble but quickly dominating the market.
For consumers, Meta’s devices are a concrete option today, with known trade-offs and real-world reviews to consult. Apple’s glasses remain a possibility on the horizon. Until Apple discloses specifications, pricing, and a launch window, the most grounded reading of these reports is that the company is taking the smart-glasses category seriously and thinking about fashion as much as function. Whether that work results in a head-to-head competitor to Meta’s Ray-Bans, or something altogether different, will only become clear when Apple moves from leaks to an actual announcement.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
