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.
