Apple is planning to push back the launch timeline for its long-rumored smart glasses. This highlights a significant development in the tech giant’s wearable technology roadmap. Earlier reports had pointed to a 2026 debut. But the latest information suggests users might have to wait until late 2027 to get their hands on the device.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote in his newsletter Power On, “Sources inside Apple have claimed that the company’s smart glasses will come out at the very end of 2027. This isn’t set in stone, of course, but that is the release window that Apple is now targeting.”
The Apple smart glasses project, code-named ‘N50,’ will likely serve as Apple’s response to the growing popularity of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. The device is supposed to rely heavily on AI-powered features, advanced camera capabilities and tight integration with Apple services.
According to the latest reports, Apple had planned to launch its product earlier but delayed it due to various development issues and the need to improve the software. The firm is also developing updates to Siri and Apple Intelligence that will be crucial for the smart glasses operation. The first-generation Apple smart glasses are expected to focus on AI-assisted functionality rather than full augmented reality. Reports suggest they may include:
Built-in cameras for visual intelligence
Siri-powered contextual assistance
Photo and video capture capabilities
Deep iPhone integration
Multiple frame styles and color options
Notably, several reports indicate that the initial version may not feature an in-lens display, making it closer to Meta’s smart glasses than to a full AR headset.
Apple is now eyeing a commercial launch in late 2027. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, quoted in several outlets, the device has been delayed from its previous target of early 2027.
The new timeline represents a change of course from earlier reports, which suggested that Apple might launch smart glasses by the end of 2026. The reports had mentioned that prototype production would start well ahead of the launch.
Apple faces competition from others advancing smart eyewear. While Meta is building out its line of Ray-Ban smart glasses, Snap just launched consumer specs, AR glasses. There are even similar efforts underway at Samsung and Google.
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