Apple's smart glasses have been delayed due to concerns about igniting a privacy controversy.
Digital Trends may earn a commission when you purchase through links on our site. Why should you trust us?
Apple is taking additional time to ensure that its smart glasses do not acquire Meta’s unsettling reputation.
According to Bloomberg, Apple could reveal its first smart glasses at WWDC in June 2027, with a consumer launch anticipated toward the end of that year. The device, referred to internally as N50, was initially planned for a late 2026 introduction and an early 2027 launch.
The delay is reportedly due to Apple’s engineering and marketing teams dedicating more time to perfecting the product and addressing privacy concerns related to having cameras on users' faces. Privacy is said to be the foremost priority for the teams developing the glasses.
Apple does not need to speculate on the privacy issues, as Meta’s glasses have already showcased them. It has been reported that an underground market has arisen for services and accessories aimed at covering or disabling the recording light on Ray-Ban Meta glasses. In response, Meta announced that the camera would cease functioning if the light was tampered with.
Instagram has also begun removing accounts that utilized the glasses to film and harass individuals. Recently, two pickup-artist accounts with over a million followers each were taken down, although deleting footage post-upload does little for those who were unaware they were being recorded.
For years, Apple has positioned privacy as one of its core principles. This makes it clear why the company is being particularly careful before entering the smart glasses market.
Apple has reportedly explored models without cameras and versions where the cameras can analyze the environment but do not record photos or videos. This approach could still enable object recognition, navigation, Siri, calls, and music playback.
The company is also expected to prioritize on-device processing, avoid facial recognition, keep recordings away from AI training, and use a more visible light around the camera. Eliminating video capture would make the glasses less contentious but could also reduce their attractiveness. Apple must now figure out how to retain the feature without inheriting Meta’s negative image.
I have about four years of experience, primarily focusing on gaming, PC hardware, and smartphones. In my spare time, I enjoy...
Google may soon allow you to unlock your Pixel Watch with your phone.
An upcoming feature could reverse the current Watch Unlock function, enabling an authenticated phone to unlock the watch automatically.
If you’ve set up a PIN on your Pixel Watch, you’re familiar with the prompt that appears every time you put it back on your wrist. While it's a valuable security feature, entering a PIN on that small screen multiple times a day can be tedious. A new report indicates that Google might be developing a way to bypass this.
A new iPhone app can detect Meta smart glasses that are nearby.
Your iPhone can now monitor the glasses that might be observing you.
Earlier this year, Android users received an unusual privacy tool that could alert them when smart glasses were nearby. Five months later, iPhone users finally have access to a similar tool, and its name reveals its stance on Meta quite clearly.
AntiZuck is a $2.99 iPhone app that scans for Bluetooth signals linked to smart glasses and notifies you when one is detected nearby. It supports devices like Meta Ray-Bans, Snap Spectacles, Amazon Echo Frames, and RayNeo glasses, with the developer stating that more hardware will be included.
Apple’s smartwatches will look unchanged for at least another year or two.
Reports indicate that Apple’s Series 12 and Ultra 4 will not feature a redesign this year, relying instead on chip upgrades and health tracking improvements for this generation.
For the past few years, every new Apple Watch has closely resembled its predecessor. The Apple Watch Series 11 had the same specifications and design as the Series 10, which in turn mirrored the Series 9. It seems this trend may continue into 2026 as well.
So what changes can we expect this year?
Other articles
Apple's smart glasses have been delayed due to concerns about igniting a privacy controversy.
Apple's smart glasses might not be available to consumers until late 2027, as the company is figuring out how to integrate cameras without compromising privacy.
