Apple's Smart Glasses to Enter a Rapidly Growing Market

Apple's first smart glasses could arrive in a rapidly expanding market, with worldwide AI glasses shipments increasing 263% year-over-year during the first half of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. The figures are particularly relevant for Apple because display-less products accounted for 96% of shipments. Apple's initial smart glasses are likewise rumored to omit an augmented reality display, focusing instead on audio, cameras, Siri, and connectivity with the iPhone and Apple's wider ecosystem. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the company is targeting a late 2027 release for the device. Apple could introduce the glasses at WWDC 2027 with an emphasis on privacy. Counterpoint said shipments of display-less AI glasses increased 258% from the first half of 2025 and 22% from the preceding six months. This category includes products such as the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which provide photography, audio, calling, and AI features without screens. ‌Meta‌ currently presents Apple with a formidable incumbent. The company accounted for approximately 94% of total AI glasses shipments, while its own volume grew 260% year over year and 22% sequentially. Its expansion has been supported by additional frame styles, wider retail distribution, and new glasses priced from $299. Display-equipped AI glasses represented only 4% of the market, although shipments in that segment increased 449% year-over-year. Apple's more advanced augmented-reality glasses are not expected until 2029 at the earliest. Counterpoint identified increasing semiconductor costs and public unease about wearable cameras as possible obstacles to continued growth. It nevertheless expects investment from Apple, ‌Meta‌, Google, and Samsung to push the category toward more proactive glasses that use AI to understand their surroundings and provide assistance based on context. Popular StoriesiPhone 17 Remains World's Best Selling SmartphoneThe iPhone 17 retained its position as the world's best selling smartphone in the second quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro holding the next two spots on the firm's quarterly ranking. Data from Counterpoint's Global Handset Model Sales Tracker places the standard iPhone 17 at 6% of global smartphone unit sales for the second...Meta Agrees to Limit Teens' Time on Facebook and Instagram, Calls on TikTok and YouTube to MatchWednesday August 26, 2026 3:28 pm PDT by Juli CloverMeta today said it will implement major changes to Facebook and Instagram's child safety features as part of a settlement agreement with almost all U.S. states. Here's what will change for users under 18 on Instagram and Facebook if the agreement is approved. Time Limit - Teens will have a two-hour daily time limit on Facebook and Instagram, though it can be overridden by a parent. The...Siri AI Settlement Website Now Live: Apple to Pay Some iPhone OwnersSunday September 20, 2026 7:24 pm PDT by Joe RossignolIn May, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit over Siri AI's delayed launch, and the settlement website is now live. Apple will pay an estimated $25 per eligible iPhone to eligible customers, who can submit a claim via the settlement website between September 21 and December 21 of this year. The exact payment may be higher or lower than $25 depending on the...