Apple is taking time with its smart glasses and a late 2027 launch is now the target

Apple's entry into the smart glasses market has hit another speed bump. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's smart glasses, internally codenamed N50, have been pushed back to a late 2027 launch. The glasses were originally set to be revealed by the end of 2026, with shipments beginning in early 2027, but development delays have pushed that timeline back by roughly a year.

The delay means Apple will enter a market in which Meta has been building momentum for several years. Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, which the company recently expanded with two new AI models for prescription wearers, have seen sales triple in 2025 over the previous year. Apple is clearly taking its time to ensure it enters the space with a product worth buying rather than rushing a half-finished wearable to market.

Gurman reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook views the N50 glasses as his top priority before handing the reins to incoming CEO John Ternus on September 1. Ternus has been leading Apple's Vision Products Group for the past two years, making him a natural fit to carry the project forward.

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On the design side, previous reports from Gurman suggest that Apple is testing at least four frame styles, including larger and slimmer rectangular options similar to the glasses Cook himself wears, as well as larger and smaller oval or circular frames. Color options under consideration include black, ocean blue, and light brown. The cameras are expected to be oval-shaped rather than the circular design used by Meta Ray-Bans.

Feature-wise, the first-generation N50 glasses will include built-in cameras for photos and videos, speakers and microphones for music, phone calls, and Siri notifications, plus potentially turn-by-turn walking directions. Apple is targeting a price range of $200 to $500, putting it in direct competition with Meta's lineup. Gurman does not expect an in-lens augmented reality display for at least several years, with AR integration likely a future evolution rather than a launch feature.