Apple Smart Glasses Slip to 2027 as Google Ships This Fall

Most people thought Apple would lead with face computing, the way it did with tablets and smartwatches. That changed three weeks ago. Mark Gurman’s Power On newspaper reported that Apple has pushed its first AI glasses from early 2027 to late 2027. The cheaper Vision Air model dropped to 2028 or 2029.

At the same time, Google used I/O 2026 to confirm that the first Android XR headsets are shipping this fall. The XREAL Aura, a larger pair that uses the same software, opened for reservations on June 16. Two brands, two designs, one operating system, and a full year before Apple showed up.

Announced by Google at I/O 2026

At I/O on May 19, Google demonstrated Intelligent Eyewear. It comes in two versions: audio-only frames and a Google display version that isn’t fully detailed yet. Hearing glasses introduce first. They work with both Android and iPhone phones, with more details in the press release buried below.

Gentle Monster and Warby Parker design frames. Samsung makes the hardware, and Qualcomm makes the chip. Every pair has a camera, even an audio version, so Gemini can answer questions about whatever you’re watching, and the translation works in real time. You can take photos and edit them with the Nano Banana, and directions play through speakers that sit over your ears instead of a screen.

Google didn’t announce a price or a specific release date, just “fall 2026”. Samsung’s press release gives the same time. The two frames shown so far are just samples. The larger Gentle Monster and Warby Parker collections will come later.

XREAL Aura is Android XR’s big, weird baby

XREAL opened reservations for the Aura on June 16, 2026. Shipping begins this fall in the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and South Korea. This is not a lightweight sound frame.

The Aura is a wired XR headset shaped like a pair of glasses. It has a 70-degree field of view, 6DoF tracking, manual tracking, and a prescription lens option. The processor is split into two: the Snapdragon Reality Elite chip lives in the little puck you’re holding, while the XREAL chip of the X1S lives in the glasses. The glasses weigh less than 95 grams on your face.

XREAL says the base model won’t cost more than $1,500. That’s the only amount they’ve shared so far. A $99 deposit turns into a $199 credit at launch, resulting in a $100 discount if the final price drops. A separate $299 Founder Priority Pass gets the first 2,000 buyers their glasses on launch day.

So you get two very different products in one app. Another phone accessory you can wear all day. Another wired computer to sit down and get work or entertainment done. Both ships before the arrival of the first couple of Apple.

Why Apple’s delay matters

Apple’s delay is a development problem, not a planned wait. By the end of 2027 is the new target. That means the Apple pair won’t hit stores until at least the holiday season after this one. The cheaper Vision Air headset is down to 2028 or even 2029.

That gap is Apple’s problem and Google’s opportunity. Sound glasses set the tone for the entire class, and the Google pair works with iOS right out of the box. If Warby Parker and Gentle Monster frames sell well this fall and over the holidays, consumers will start to think “smart glasses” mean Android. Apple is good at showing up late and winning anyway, but a full year of two types of Android XR glasses on store shelves is a tougher first line than Apple usually faces.

What this means if you’re shopping for smart glasses right now

If you’re looking for a lightweight pair that handles calls, directions, and Gemini inquiries without a screen, Google’s audio glasses are your best bet, and you don’t have to switch to Android. Credit: Google He has not yet shared a price or a firm release date. The Gentle Monster and Warby Parker frames shown so far are just samples, not a full set. Treat the fall of 2026 as “before the holidays” and watch the launch event before then.

If you’re looking for a full-on XR, the kind that replaces a monitor or TV, Samsung’s $1,800 Galaxy XR already shipped last October. But the Aura is the only Android XR headset currently open for pre-order, and the only one with a confirmed price under $1,500. The $99 deposit is refundable and the $199 credit is real, so holding the property costs nothing. The Founder Pass is a terrible deal unless launch day delivery and numbered pairings are important to you.

If you want the Apple version, you have to wait until at least late 2027. The cheaper Vision Air won’t appear until 2028 or 2029. That’s two waves of Android XR hardware to try before Apple shows up.