Apple is expected to make a full-fledged entry into the smart glasses market led by Meta. With Google and Snap also signaling new product launches, competition among global big tech companies over next-generation glasses is set to intensify.
Bloomberg reported on the 26th (local time) that Apple plans to unveil its first smart glasses, code-named "N50," at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June next year and begin sales later that year. The product will include a microphone and speakers that support music playback, calls, and alerts from the Siri voice assistant. It is highly likely to feature artificial intelligence (AI) functions and cameras that recognize surrounding conditions.
The release schedule has been delayed from the original plan. Apple considered unveiling the product late this year and launching it early next year, but it reportedly revisited its development strategy as concerns grew over covert recording and privacy invasion via smart glasses. Some regions in the United States and venues such as schools, hospitals, and gyms restrict the use of smart glasses.
Apple is said to have tested prototypes that limit recording functions or remove the camera. However, observers note that if the camera is removed, the core competitiveness of AI glasses could weaken, making it unlikely to be applied to the actual product.
The market is growing rapidly. Ray-Ban Meta has sold more than 2 million units since its 2023 launch. Manufacturer EssilorLuxottica plans to expand annual production capacity to 10 million units by the end of 2026, and Meta is also considering raising it to around 20 million units.
Meta, in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, currently leads the market. Google is preparing to launch AI glasses with Samsung Electronics, and Snap has unveiled its Augmented Reality (AR) glasses "Spectacles." With Apple joining in, platform competition over next-generation personal devices after smartphones is expected to intensify in earnest.