Apple is accelerating development of smart glasses with plans to release the AI-enhanced device by the end of 2026. The iPhone-maker aims to compete directly with Meta's popular Ray-Ban smart glasses and Google’s upcoming Android XR smart glasses. Apple engineers are ramping up production timelines, with large-scale prototype manufacturing scheduled to begin with overseas suppliers by year's end, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.The planned glasses will feature cameras, microphones, and speakers, enabling real-world analysis through Siri voice commands. Core functionality will include phone calls, music control, live language translation, and turn-by-turn navigation, capabilities similar to Meta's current offering but reportedly "better made," according to one source.Originally codenamed N50 and now designated under the broader N401 project umbrella, Apple's glasses represent a strategic pivot toward

AI-powered devices

as the company faces intensified competition. The timing coincides with OpenAI's Wednesday announcement of partnering with former Apple design chief Jony Ive to launch AI hardware products starting next year.However, Apple has shelved its camera-equipped Apple Watch plans, which were targeted for 2027 release. The company continues developing camera-enabled AirPods while focusing resources on the glasses project.

The smart glasses will incorporate a dedicated Apple-designed chip, with Bloomberg previously reporting mass production plans beginning next year. While these glasses focus on AI capabilities, Apple's ultimate goal remains

augmented reality

spectacles with digital content overlay, technology that remains years away from commercial release.