Apple and Meta Race to Redefine Smart Glasses: A Head-to-Head Look at the Future of Wearable Tech

The race for dominance in the burgeoning smart glasses market is heating up, with Apple and Meta emerging as the key contenders. Both companies are pouring significant resources into developing augmented reality (AR) and AI-powered eyewear, signaling a potential shift in how we interact with technology.

According to a recent report from 9to5Mac, citing Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, Apple is actively developing its own smart glasses, codenamed N50.

This device aims to integrate Apple Intelligence, the company's AI developments, into a pair of glasses that won’t break the bank. While Apple's ultimate goal is augmented reality glasses, the smart glasses are thought to be a stepping stone while technology catches up. Similar to Meta's collaboration with Ray-Ban, Apple's device would analyze the surroundings and provide information to the wearer, without full AR capabilities.

Meta, meanwhile, is reportedly pushing hard to release its own smart glasses with a heads-up display (HUD), codenamed Hypernova, as early as October. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman notes that some Meta employees are working weekends to meet this ambitious deadline, indicating Hypernova is a top hardware priority for the company. The device is anticipated to have a price ranging from $1000 to $1400, and even include Meta's neural wristband as an input device. Meta Connect 2025, to take place on September 17 and 18, may be the launching point for this new product.

The crucial question remains: what will these glasses *do* for the average user? As one article points out, there needs to be a true, killer app. Beyond simple notification displays, augmented reality glasses hold the potential to transform numerous fields. A Stanford research prototype showed vividly that projected images onto seemingly regular glasses could revolutionize gaming, entertainment, training, and education. Imagine surgeons planning complex surgeries, or airplane mechanics learning to work on jet engines with real-time information overlaid onto their field of vision. This functionality could be available sooner than we think, if companies race to get these smart glasses in the hands of the consumer.

While both Apple and Meta are making strides, challenges remain, as Tim Cook, himself “AR fan number one”, is pushing for glasses that are indistinguishable from the real thing: a non-overheating, all-day battery, and a razor sharp display, all must come together in order to make a product that consumers want to wear daily. The lack of must-have apps and a coherent ecosystem has hampered adoption in the past, even with established players like Meta and Xiaomi. Apple launching a dedicated App Store for the headset and improving the integration could be a key differentiator. While there's talk that Apple would rather not allow glasses to take photos due to privacy concerns, the privacy that AR glasses could offer, such as screens only visible to the wearer in public spaces, could be another reason to get on board.

The future of smart glasses is far from certain, but the competition between Apple and Meta promises exciting innovation in wearable technology. Will these devices become essential tools for everyday life, or remain niche gadgets? What essential smart glass features would compel *you* to purchase a pair? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

• Apple
• Meta
• Smart Glasses