Apple's Next Big Thing Could Come to Life in 2018

The Cupertino-based tech giant might be adding to its lone wearable soon. According to Bloomberg, Apple is cooking up ideas for a potential competitor to Snapchat's Spectacles and Google's Project Aura. Apple's supposedly in talks with its hardware suppliers for potential augmented reality (AR) glasses and ordered "small quantities of near-eye displays" for testing.

Getting into smart glasses could be a game changer for Apple, especially with the increasing popularity of AR and video-sharing apps (like Snapchat). Although Google's glasses ended up being a flop, Apple might be looking for its next big hit in the increasingly popular AR business.

The AR glass "would connect wirelessly to iPhones, show images and other information in the wearer’s field of vision, and may use augmented reality," according to insiders, as reported by Bloomberg. The new product could be introduced by 2018.

Currently, Apple has existing patents for AR and virtual reality (VR) products. “AR can be really great, and we have been and continue to invest a lot in this,” CEO Tim Cook said in a conference call with analysts last July 26. “We think there are great things for customers and a great commercial opportunity.”

With Google taking on Apple in the smartphone gig, it seems likely that Apple is continuing to look for other ways to get ahead.