Apple is planning to unveil its first smart glasses at WWDC 2027 next June, ahead of a late 2027 release, and the new glasses will be privacy-focused, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
The timing suggests Apple wants developers to begin building applications for this new form factor. But the announcement will also mark the beginning of a different challenge: allaying the growing privacy concerns of artificial intelligence-powered glasses equipped with cameras.
The glasses, code-named N50, had originally been targeted for introduction later this year, with a launch following in early 2027. One reason for the delay is that Apple’s engineering and marketing teams have been working to refine not only the product, but also the company’s privacy message.
Apple is prototyping “a slew of new hardware and software-related privacy features” that are not available on current products, Gurman said.
Like the Meta Ray-Bans, Apple’s glasses would also have speakers and microphones for music, phone calls, and notifications announced by Siri.
Gurman said Apple has considered releasing smart glasses with cameras that assist with AI features, but lack photo and video recording capabilities. The company has even prototyped smart glasses without a camera system entirely.
Gurman believes the most likely outcome is that Apple’s glasses will have cameras, but with the sort of privacy protections that the company is known for.
