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First Apple smart glasses may not arrive until late 2027

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Apple Glasses render
Apple Glasses is over a year away from launch.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s first smart glasses will reportedly stand out based on strong brand value, “industrial design and iPhone integration,” according to new information that surfaced Sunday.

The company will seemingly launch its first smart glasses near the end of 2027.

Apple smart glasses still in development

Smart glasses remain a nascent category. Right now, Ray-Ban Meta glasses are the most popular option. But Samsung and Google also recently teased their first pair of smart glasses, due to launch later this year.

Previous reports indicated that Apple’s first smart glasses, codenamed N50, would launch toward the end of 2026. However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, in his latest Power On newsletter, says the product won’t launch until late 2027.

The smart glasses will stand out with oval-shaped cameras, unique colors and several frame styles. Beyond the design, the wearable will rely heavily on the revamped Siri and Apple Intelligence to deliver the best possible experience.

The hardware alone might not be enough to convince people to buy Apple-branded smart glasses, though. Instead, Apple is reportedly counting on deep iPhone integration, plus its brand power and vast retail presence, to give the product a major advantage.

Top Apple executives, including current CEO Tim Cook and his successor, John Ternus, are all backing the project, according to Bloomberg. The Vision Products Group, which is developing the smart glasses, has been led by Ternus for the last two years.

New Vision Pro headset also in development

Despite the Vision Pro‘s struggles, Apple is not giving up on the $3,499 headset. Gurman says the company is working on a slimmer and lighter version to succeed the Vision Pro. However, it’s years away from launch, with a debut unlikely before late 2028.

Eventually, the smart glasses and the lighter headset will pave the way for a sleeker pair of more powerful glasses with augmented reality capabilities. But the AR glasses are unlikely to arrive before the end of the decade, according to Gurman.

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