Apple delays smart glasses to 2027 over privacy concerns, Bloomberg reports

Apple pushed back the launch of its first smart glasses to its Worldwide Developers Conference in June of next year, Bloomberg reported Sunday.

The device, code-named N50, is set to go on sale late next year.

Apple had planned to unveil the glasses late this year and release them in early 2027, but opted to delay as privacy concerns increased.

Meta’s smart glasses have raised fears that users could secretly record people in restaurants, workplaces and other public spaces. Some areas of New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have banned the devices, as have some schools, gyms, hospitals and entertainment venues.

Like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, made with EssilorLuxottica, Apple’s device will feature speakers and microphones for music, calls and Siri notifications. It will also include a camera and AI functions.

Apple considered models that could not take photos or record video. It also reportedly built a prototype without a camera.

However, Bloomberg reported Apple is unlikely to remove the camera feature because doing so would limit the device’s main functions.

BY JUNG SI-NAE [[email protected]]