Apple is reportedly testing four designs for its first pair of smart glasses, which are expected to be released next year, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
The company is known for its spatial headset, Apple Vision Pro, but originally had another device on its roadmap until around 2022: a pair of smart glasses without a display. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms has taken the lead in this category with its camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta, powered by Meta AI. Meta also offers a version with a display.
Apple’s effort is internally codenamed N50, and Bloomberg reports that the glasses could even be unveiled at the end of the year, with an actual release likely in 2027.
The company is said to be working on different frame styles and a unique camera design. This comes at a time when the Cupertino-based firm is reportedly developing a foldable iPhone, which reports suggest is on track for a September debut.
The Tim Cook-led company began exploring head-worn devices around a decade ago. At the time, it was pursuing three distinct products: an iPhone-tethered augmented reality headset with a wireless controller; a high-end mixed-reality headset; and standalone AR glasses.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that Apple aimed to ship the iPhone-dependent device in early 2020, follow it up with the mixed-reality headset by late 2021, and then deliver true AR glasses by mid-2022. Ultimately, only Vision Pro launched in 2024. A simpler version of smart glasses without a display was added to Apple’s roadmap around 2022.
With a revamped Siri on the way, the timing may be right for Apple to introduce smart glasses. If the device materialises, it could capture photos and videos, sync with a smartphone for editing and sharing, handle phone calls, deliver notifications, play music, and enable hands-free interaction via a voice assistant.
The Apple product is expected to integrate closely with the iPhone and offer a more premium build than Meta’s offerings, which are developed in partnership with EssilorLuxottica. Apple may enter this segment without a partner, setting it apart from Alphabet’s Google and Samsung, which are reportedly working with Warby Parker.
