Apple's first smart glasses could enter a rapidly expanding market, with worldwide AI glasses shipments surging 263% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. Display-less products accounted for 96% of shipments, aligning with rumors that Apple's initial device will omit an augmented reality display. Instead, the glasses are expected to focus on audio, cameras, Siri, and deep integration with the iPhone and broader Apple ecosystem. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports a target launch of late 2027, potentially unveiled at WWDC 2027 with a privacy emphasis.

Display-less AI glasses shipments grew 258% from H1 2025 and 22% sequentially. This category is dominated by Ray-Ban Meta glasses, offering photography, audio, calling, and AI features without screens. Meta holds a commanding 94% market share, with its volume growing 260% year-over-year, driven by new frame styles, wider retail distribution, and models priced from $299.

Display-equipped AI glasses represented just 4% of the market, though shipments jumped 449% year-over-year. Apple's more advanced AR glasses are not expected until 2029 at the earliest. Counterpoint flags rising semiconductor costs and privacy concerns over wearable cameras as potential headwinds, but anticipates investment from Apple, Meta, Google, and Samsung will push the category toward proactive, context-aware AI assistance.