Apple plans to unveil its first smart glasses at WWDC in June 2027.
Sales begin before the end of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The upcoming device is designed to stand out through deep integration with revamped Siri AI app features rather than a traditional visual interface, positioning the hardware as an AI-focused wearable rather than a miniature headset.
Apple Prepares Smart Glasses for 2027
Internally code-named N50, the prototypes run a pared-down version of visionOS. They use a processor based on older smartwatch chips and feature a flat, rectangular charger roughly the size of a Tic Tac that functions while wearing the glasses, according to The Verge.
Relying on iPhone Processing Power
The glasses rely on a nearby iPhone to handle tasks instead of running dedicated applications directly on the hardware. This design choice addresses limits in computing power and memory, mirroring Apple’s initial strategy with the Apple Watch.
The system connects to apps through the Siri AI developer preview introduced in the betas of iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, macOS 27.3, and visionOS 27.3. Apple opened developer capabilities on November 3. App Store submissions for the updated features open in the spring. Developers enable Siri interactions in existing iPhone apps via App Intents rather than building custom applications for the glasses.
The glasses feature Wi-Fi connectivity while third-party apps remain on the paired iPhone. Functions like audio playback continue if the wearer walks away from the phone. The device requires a recent iPhone model and does not support Android devices.
Task Management Through Siri Integration
Internal discussions at Apple envision using Siri to complete everyday tasks via third-party services. Examples include making restaurant reservations through OpenTable, booking rides through Uber or Lyft, ordering coffee at Starbucks, buying items on Amazon, and purchasing movie tickets through Fandango.
The glasses rely on Apple’s built-in applications for basic features. Visual Intelligence uses cameras to observe surroundings, answer contextual questions, translate conversations and signs, identify items, and suggest cooking ideas from ingredients in a refrigerator. First-party capabilities also include delivering iPhone notifications, responding to messages, managing calendar entries, creating reminders, controlling music playback, and interacting with smart home devices.
Apple emphasizes audio quality, with employees describing the sound as industry-leading. The hardware supports phone calls, music playback, and FaceTime audio communication. Like Google’s Intelligent Eyewear, the glasses skip a display and do not overlay images on the wearer’s field of view, leading employees to describe the device as “AirPods for your face.” Apple is also developing camera-equipped AirPods that feed visual data to Siri as a separate product.
Market Competition and Software Delays
Apple aims to use developers in its App Store to compete against market leader Meta and its Ray-Ban smart glasses. Software development runs behind schedule. Software delays introduce uncertainty to the planned WWDC unveiling and late 2027 delivery targets, though those deadlines remain official internally.
Earlier coverage: Apple Launches Siri AI Developer Preview for App Integration
