Apple Targets WWDC 2027 for Privacy-Focused Smart Glasses Debut
After delaying from 2026, Apple's N50 project debates camera inclusion amid Meta's privacy backlash.
Apple plans to unveil its first smart glasses at WWDC in June 2027, with customer shipments beginning in late 2027. The timeline has already slipped once from an original late-2026 target as the company refines privacy features and messaging, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and multiple outlets.
The N50 Project
Internally codenamed 'N50', the device is being developed within Apple's Vision hardware group (also referred to as the Vision Products Group). Unlike the Vision Pro headset, which targets high-end immersive experiences, the N50 aims for a lightweight, everyday wearable form factor that can compete directly with Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Privacy at the Center
Apple's delay appears driven by internal debates over camera functionality. The company is exploring three prototype paths: a full camera with photo and video recording, a camera that feeds visual data to AI tools without enabling recording, and a camera-less design entirely.
One prototype eliminates camera hardware altogether, retaining only hands-free Siri access, music playback, and phone calls. Apple is prioritizing on-device processing, avoiding facial recognition, and eschewing 'super-sensing' modes that could trigger public backlash.
The privacy focus comes as Meta faces ongoing scrutiny over its Ray-Ban smart glasses. Reports of contractors reviewing intimate footage captured by Meta devices, along with bans in venues like New York courtrooms, have created a challenging landscape for camera-equipped wearables.
"Apple's Smart Glasses Will Need to Overcome Meta's Privacy Reputation," Gurman wrote in his July 26, 2026 Power On newsletter.
Strategic Pivot
The N50 represents a strategic shift for Apple's spatial computing ambitions. While the Vision Pro established Apple's presence in the headset market, its bulky form factor and $3,500 price point limited mass-market appeal. The smart glasses project signals Apple's attempt to reach everyday consumers with a device that blends into normal life rather than dominating it.
The success of the product hinges on solving what industry observers call the 'privacy paradox'—providing the utility of a camera-equipped wearable without triggering the legal and social pushback that has plagued competitors. Apple's reputation for privacy-focused design may provide an advantage, but the company's timeline has already proven flexible, with further slips possible before the WWDC 2027 unveiling.