This week, Mark Gurman shared new details about Apple Glasses through Bloomberg, emphasizing the design. Here are the reasons why it seems that Apple truly showcases its strengths with the upcoming product.

Apple Glasses will feature an iconic and 'immediately recognizable' design among four styles

Previous reports about Apple's upcoming smart glasses provided a good idea of what the product will do. Features include deep iPhone integration, cameras for photography and visual intelligence, a voice-focused interface with the new Siri of iOS 27, and more.

However, this week, we received the most detailed update on what Apple Glasses will look like.

Mark Gurman wrote in Bloomberg:

Apple's design team has developed at least four different styles and plans to release some or all of them. The latest models are made from a high-quality material called acetate, which is more durable and luxurious than the standard plastic used by many brands.

The tested designs are as follows:

  • A large rectangular frame similar to Ray-Ban Wayfarers
  • A thinner rectangular design similar to the glasses worn by Apple CEO Tim Cook
  • Larger oval or circular frames
  • Smaller, more elegant oval or circular options

Apple is working on various finishes, such as black, ocean blue, and light brown. As with AirPods and Apple Watch, the goal is to create an immediately recognizable design. Apple internally refers to this as an "icon." Another important detail being considered is the camera system: vertically placed oval lenses with surrounding lights, a deviation from the circular design seen in Meta's products.

Competing smart glasses products generally look quite good. And this is no surprise, as companies like Meta collaborate with eyewear experts: Ray-Ban, Oakley, and more.

Apple designers are creating smart glasses without such external partners. I think this is a perfectly right move, as it repeatedly proves Apple's design team's ability to create iconic designs.

And doing this with smart glasses will not be a small achievement, especially with several different styles planned.

However, Apple's current wearable technologies show that this is within the company's area of expertise.

AirPods and Apple Watch designs provide a strong example for Apple Glasses

AirPods and Apple Watch are great examples of Apple's ability to create iconic looks. And both offer multiple different models.

Whether you are talking about AirPods Pro, AirPods, or AirPods Max, each AirPods model has an "immediately recognizable" quality.

The same goes for Apple Watch. Both the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra designs have been distinctive from the start. And despite competitors' attempts to mimic Apple, these designs continue to remain iconic.

Headphones and watches have been around for a long time. However, Apple has managed to design technology versions that evoke familiarity yet are distinctly Apple.

And it seems the company will also rely on this strength with Apple Glasses.

I'm not surprised that Apple wants to create an immediately recognizable glasses design. However, doing this potentially among four or more different looks is a big challenge. I'm eager to see what kind of result Apple will deliver.

Perhaps the use of acetate, the unique camera arrangement, or another design feature will help Apple combine its various glasses offerings while also allowing them to stand apart from third-party alternatives.

Apple's design team has undergone many changes since the original AirPods and Apple Watch were launched. Most notably, Jony Ive was still around for those early models.

But perhaps this fall, we will see what Apple's current design team has been preparing.

What do you think about the reported design plans for Apple Glasses? Let us know in the comments.

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