Apple’s long-rumored foray into the world of smart glasses is finally taking shape, and it promises to be a game-changer in the VR/XR space. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s first pair of smart glasses, codenamed “N50,” will make its debut at next year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2027. But don’t expect them to hit store shelves immediately – a late 2027 release is still on the cards.
The N50 smart glasses are said to feature two camera sensors: one for photo and video capture, and another for computer vision tasks. This setup will allow users to take advantage of features like phone calls, AI queries, listening to music, and capturing images without needing a display. Yes, you read that right – no screen in sight! Instead, the cameras, speakers, and microphones will do all the heavy lifting.
But what’s really interesting about Apple’s approach is its focus on privacy. The company has clearly taken note of Meta’s missteps in this area, where user camera footage was sent to a subcontractor for manual review to train AI models. To avoid similar pitfalls, Apple’s teams are working tirelessly to develop features and policies that address these concerns. In fact, Gurman says that “privacy is priority No. 1” when it comes to the N50 project.
Now, we know what you’re thinking: won’t these smart glasses be too late to the party? After all, Meta’s Ray-Ban collaboration has already been on the market for a while now. But Apple is betting big that its attention to detail and commitment to user experience will set it apart from the competition. And let’s not forget – this is Apple we’re talking about, one of the most innovative companies in the world.
But what does this mean for the future of VR/XR? Well, for starters, it looks like we can expect a lot more emphasis on smart glasses as we move towards the AR segment. With Samsung and Google also set to release their own smart glasses, the competition is heating up. And Apple’s entry into the market will undoubtedly raise the bar – who knows what features they’ll bring to the table?
One thing’s for sure: with Apple, Meta, Samsung, and Google all vying for a piece of the pie, we can expect some serious innovation in the world of smart glasses. Will N50 be the one to finally make them mainstream? Only time will tell, but one thing’s certain – it’ll be an exciting ride.
Source: Road to VR — 2026-07-27