Apple reportedly plans to unveil a new product at WWDC next June
This device, a long time in development at Apple, has been considered a replacement for the iPhone.
Apple will reportedly unveil smart glasses at WWDC 2027 | Image by PhoneArena
We couldn't wait for WWDC 2026 because we knew that based on tradition, the iOS 27 Developer Beta would be first released immediately after the keynote. The beta would give us the opportunity to finally check out the new AI-powered version of Siri. Sure enough, things worked out exactly as expected.
Why you need to look forward to WWDC 2027
Now, we have a reason to look forward to WWDC 2027 next June. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will unveil its first pair of smart glasses at WWDC next year and will start shipping them at the end of the year. Gurman wrote about this in today's edition of his weekly Power On newsletter.
Some Google Glass wearers were known as glassholes. | Image by Google
Apple has long been rumored to be working on smart glasses, with several analysts believing at various times that the connected specs would be the next big thing at Apple, replacing the iPhone. Former Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said nine years ago that Apple's smart glasses would be bigger than the iPhone.
Apple's smart glasses already have a model number of N50
We already have a model number for Apple's glasses, N50, and the original plan was for the specs to be introduced later this year with a release early next year. But there are reasons for the delay and the new timeline, which, as we mentioned earlier in this article, now starts with an introduction at WWDC 2027 and winds up with a release at the end of next year.
The tech giant is still hard at work looking to refine the glasses
Gurman says that there are two reasons why we have seen a delay in the introduction of the product. One is that Apple's engineering and marketing teams are hard at work refining the glasses. The other reason is that Apple is working to refine its privacy message.
Privacy was a big issue with Google Glass back in the day when device wearers were accused of violating privacy rights by secretly recording videos of bystanders without alerting them that their cameras were on. These Google Glass users were known as "Glassholes," and they left a huge legacy of mistrust of smart glass wearers that remains to this day.
These days, smart glasses, like the ones sold by Meta, include a light that turns on when the camera is active so those walking around will know that they are being recorded. Samsung's glasses, to be released later this year, will also feature a similar light.
Courtrooms in New York have banned smart glasses, and some courts in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have done the same thing. These devices make people so uncomfortable that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has banned them from restrooms and children's areas. To prevent cheating, or any look of impropriety, the glasses are also not allowed to be worn in the ships' casinos, and some schools, hospitals, and theaters won't let smart glasses on the premises.
Apple and Meta are considering selling smart glasses without cameras that snap photos or record videos
Meta is believed to be considering selling smart glasses without any cameras in the future, and Apple has reportedly made prototype glasses minus a camera. Another option that Apple is considering is including a camera with its glasses, but only to send images to AI tools that help identify places and things. These cameras would not be used to take photos or videos, which is similar to what Apple is considering for its new AirPods.
Eliminating cameras from its smart glasses would be a blow to Meta since users of the company's smart glasses love how easy it is to take photos of their families and vacation locations using their smart glasses. Apple also would have a problem since its AI features aren't considered to be strong enough to allow the tech giant to drop photography as a major reason to buy its glasses.
The cameras on its smart glasses and AirPods could be used by Apple to generate input for a feature similar to the iPhone's Visual Intelligence.
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