Apple Glasses, per the latest reporting, are full steam ahead with a targeted launch in 2026. Until now, I haven’t been that excited about the new product, since its rumored features overlap heavily with AirPods and Apple Watch. But there’s one big advantage that’s changing my mind, and it’s something Apple’s other wearables can’t match.
Feature overlap between Apple Glasses and current wearables like AirPods
Meta has found success with its Ray-Ban smart glasses, leading many to argue that Apple should build its own competitor.
In the past, I’ve been hesitant to agree.
Simply put, Apple already has two wildly successful wearables—AirPods and Apple Watch—that do most of the same things as smart glasses.
Last week, Mark Gurman shared a handful of details about the in-development Apple Glasses. Comparing them against other AI hardware offerings, Gurman said:
Apple’s glasses would have cameras, microphones and speakers, allowing them to analyze the external world and take requests via the Siri voice assistant. They could also handle tasks such as phone calls, music playback, live translations and turn-by-turn directions.
A quick scan of the list reveals many features already offered by Apple’s other wearables.
The two things missing—cameras and live translation—are both expected to be added to AirPods in the coming year or so.
If AirPods—and in many cases Apple Watch—already cover the bases of typical smart glasses features, what’s the point of Apple making another wearable?
As I’ve been thinking about this, one thing stands out: the social advantage.
Apple Glasses carry a huge social advantage over AirPods
When I use the term “social advantage,” I mean that Apple Glasses could prove perfectly acceptable in social settings where AirPods are not.
Built-in cameras are consistently touted as a big advantage of smart glasses. So much so that multiple colleagues of mine were turned believers by the feature.
Cameras are great not only for snapping quick photos and videos in a distraction-free way, but also for powering useful AI features.
In theory, AirPods with cameras will offer similar utility to that of Apple Glasses.
Their key advantage though? You’ll be able to wear Apple Glasses even when hanging out with others, whereas AirPods tend to be a little less socially acceptable.
I’d have no problem wearing Apple Glasses while out with my wife and son, but AirPods are never in my ears in those situations.
Similarly, several of my friends regularly speak languages that I’m not fluent in. Live translation will be perfect for when we’re together. While I wouldn’t wear AirPods around them, smart glasses will make the feature far more useful.
Apple Watch remains the most socially accepted wearable, but has several disadvantages compared to AirPods and Apple Glasses. For example, I wasn’t sure a camera-equipped Watch could ever prove as useful as putting cameras in AirPods or glasses, and it seems Apple agreed.
Apple Glasses won’t be the next Google Glass
For those familiar with Google Glass, the failed smart glasses product from 2013, it’s funny to think that in 2026, smart glasses might finally be the socially acceptable wearable.
The reality is, though, that we’re fast entering an era where smart glasses look just like normal glasses. Thus, they don’t say “leave me alone” the way wearing headphones does.
Despite the feature overlap between Apple Glasses and AirPods, the more social-friendly nature of wearing glasses is becoming hard to beat.
Are you interested in Apple Glasses? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
Best iPhone accessories
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
