The concept of smart glasses is heating up again across the tech industry, and Apple's long-rumored plans are starting to come into sharper focus as competition builds.

The company is preparing to launch its first smart glasses by late 2026 as it moves into a growing field of AI wearables. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports in an interview that Apple is targeting a holiday-season debut to meet rising competition.

The product is expected to rely on cameras, audio, and Siri instead of a built-in display. Apple's approach positions the glasses as an extension of the iPhone rather than a replacement for it.

Apple's smart glasses plans have been in motion for years, but the direction has shifted as the technology has run into practical limits. Earlier rumors focused on full augmented reality, while more recent reporting points to a simpler, display-free product built around cameras, audio, and Siri.