Apple’s AI-Powered Smart Glasses: A 2027 Vision to Rival Meta’s Ray-Bans

Apple is reportedly intensifying its efforts to develop smart glasses, aiming for a 2027 release that could directly compete with Meta's Ray-Ban offerings. Codenamed N50, this wearable is envisioned as an 'Apple Intelligence device,' leveraging AI to analyze the wearer's surroundings and provide contextual information. This move signals Apple's continued ambition in the smart wearable space despite earlier reports suggesting a shift away from augmented reality.

Mark Gurman, reporting in his Power On newsletter, emphasizes that these smart glasses are still in the developmental stage. Apple's ultimate goal remains creating augmented reality glasses comparable to the Vision Pro, but recognizing the significant time and resource investment required, the company is pursuing a more immediate solution: a pair of smart glasses focused on AI-driven functionality.

Apple aims to emulate the success of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses by incorporating features such as microphones, speakers, and potentially cameras, while prioritizing user privacy.

While the inclusion of cameras is still under debate due to privacy concerns, the device is intended to analyze the surrounding environment and deliver information to the wearer, stopping short of full augmented reality. This positions the device as a natural extension of Apple Intelligence, offering a hands-free, always-on AI companion.

The anticipated 2027 launch date aligns with previous reports suggesting that both Apple and Meta are targeting that year for their respective smart glasses releases. However, potential supply chain issues and ongoing tariff challenges could impact the timeline.

According to Gurman, Apple wants to follow a similar approach to Meta's Ray-Bans, which is becoming quite popular with its minimal and lightweight design. Mark Gurman states that Apple's rendition will be similar, including microphones, AI features, speakers, cameras, and more.

The company is concerned about privacy, and it remains to be seen how it will approach this. Based on prior reports, Apple and Meta will potentially launch their respective smart glasses in 2027, but any supply chain issues could delay it, considering the fact that the company is going through a rough patch with tariffs.

Apple's endeavor also reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, with companies like Meta investing heavily in smart wearables. Meta is even rumored to be planning an advanced pair of smart glasses with a small display, potentially priced at $1,000 or more. The competition in this space is heating up and is likely to lead to innovative designs and features.

Will Apple be able to undercut Meta on price? And more importantly, can it deliver a compelling Apple Intelligence experience that sets its smart glasses apart? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

• Apple
• Meta
• Smart Glasses