Apple's upcoming smart glasses may eventually become full-fledged health and fitness devices, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman revealed that the company has transferred its early ambitions from the Vision Pro headset to the new glasses project. The wearable will likely feature sensors capable of collecting movement data, similar to how AirPods evolved from simple earbuds into a hearing aid system. This could pave the way for fitness tracking features in the future.
Vision Pro's scrapped health ambitions shaped the glasses project
During the development of Vision Pro, Apple explored integrating the headset with Fitness+ to allow users to work out while sensors monitored their form. However, the project was shelved due to technical limitations and the device's weight, which made it uncomfortable during exercise. Despite this setback, the experience influenced Apple's current strategy for the glasses.
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Drawing parallels with AirPods and future sensor capabilities
Gurman highlights how Apple transformed AirPods into a medical device with hearing test features and hearing aid functionality. Similarly, the smart glasses could incorporate advanced sensors to track not just motion but also vital signs like heart rate and blood oxygen levels. This would enable continuous, non-invasive health monitoring, positioning the glasses alongside the Apple Watch as a health platform.
Job listings confirm Apple's strategic focus on health
The Vision Products Group, responsible for developing the glasses and future headsets, is seeking a "strategic product design leader" with experience in digital health or fitness products and familiarity with sensor-driven experiences. According to Gurman, this job posting confirms Apple's intent to integrate health into its wearables ecosystem.
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However, these health features will not be available at launch, expected for late next year. Gurman predicts they will arrive gradually over several years, likely through software updates and new hardware iterations. This approach mirrors Apple's strategy with the Apple Watch, which added features like ECG and fall detection in later versions.
For those following Apple's developments, the company is set to launch five new products in September, including the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 11. Additionally, the recent integration of Google Health with Apple Health could enhance health data sharing on iOS. These developments underscore how health is becoming a core pillar of Apple's ecosystem, as evidenced by the AirPods' transformation into a hearing health device.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-smart-glasses-could-become-health-device
