Apple is gearing up to enter the smart glasses arena with an ambitious plan to transform everyday eyewear, much like it revolutionized the watch industry. According to Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter, the company’s first iPhone-connected smart glasses — internally codenamed N50 — are now targeting a late 2027 launch after hitting development delays.
Originally expected to be announced by the end of 2026 with shipments starting in early 2027, the timeline has slipped by about a year. The primary reason? Apple wants to ensure its visual AI capabilities and overall product polish are ready for prime time, avoiding a premature launch that could disappoint users.
Following the Apple Watch Playbook
Gurman draws a direct parallel to the Apple Watch, which turned a niche category into a massive success and generated billions in revenue. Apple sees a similar opportunity in glasses: targeting not just tech enthusiasts, but the billions of people who wear prescription glasses, sunglasses, or use eyewear as a fashion statement.
The goal is clear — disrupt the entire eyewear market, going beyond competitors like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses by leveraging Apple’s signature strengths: premium design, seamless ecosystem integration, and powerful AI.
What to Expect from Apple’s N50 Smart Glasses
• Design Focus: Apple is testing multiple frame styles to appeal to a broad audience, including larger and slimmer rectangular options (one resembling Tim Cook’s own glasses) and oval/circular frames. Expect acetate materials for a durable, luxurious feel, along with unique colors like ocean blue.
• Cameras and AI: Prominent oval-shaped cameras will support photo and video capture, plus Visual Intelligence features for real-time AI assistance (e.g., identifying objects, providing directions, or answering queries about what you’re looking at).
• Core Features: Built-in speakers and microphones for music, phone calls, notifications, and hands-free Siri interactions. Tight integration with iOS (likely powered by a modified Watch-like chip) will make them a natural extension of your iPhone.
• No AR Display (Yet): The first version skips in-lens augmented reality displays to keep them lightweight and practical for all-day wear. AR capabilities could come in future iterations, potentially evolving into health-focused tools as well.
• Pricing: Expected to range from around $200 to $500, positioning them competitively against Meta’s offerings while feeling premium.
These glasses are positioned as a hardware platform for Apple Intelligence, serving as a wearable interface for advanced Siri and AI features.
MacDailyNews Take: This delay comes as Apple prioritizes getting the fundamentals right. A slimmer, lighter successor to the Apple Vision Pro (dubbed “Vision Air”) is now eyed for late 2028 or 2029, underscoring the company’s shift toward more accessible wearable tech.
If Apple nails the execution, these smart glasses could become as ubiquitous as AirPods or the Apple Watch — blending fashion, utility, and cutting-edge AI into something people actually want to wear every day. The extra development time suggests confidence that the final product will be worth the wait.
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