According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple's smart glasses project, codenamed N50, is still in its early stages of development and "not anywhere near ready." While Apple has a strong track record of creating small, innovative devices, the development of its smart glasses has been slower than expected.
Gurman writes that the N50 glasses aim to utilize "Apple Intelligence" to "analyze the surroundings and feed information back to the wearer," but they won't offer full augmented reality (AR) capabilities. Although Apple has demonstrated its ability to miniaturize technology in products like the Apple Watch and AirPods, a final smart glasses product remains elusive. With no confirmed release date, the project clearly has a long way to go.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, licensed through Midjourney.
Beyond smart glasses, Gurman also notes Apple is developing AirPods with cameras, which will offer similar environmental analysis capabilities. He suggests that "a significant portion of consumers don't want to wear headphones all day," implying that smart glasses and these specialized AirPods could be complementary. However, like the N50 smart glasses, these AirPods are also "not ready," reflecting Apple's cautious approach to new product categories.
In contrast to Apple, Meta is aggressively pursuing the smart glasses market. Gurman reports that Meta is striving to launch a high-end smart glasses model by October 2025. This model, potentially priced over $1000, will feature a small display for running simple apps and viewing photos, a step up from Meta's current smart glasses which already have a user base.
Gurman reveals that Meta management has urged employees to "accelerate progress," with some working overtime to meet the deadline, despite a "small risk of delays." Meta's proactive stance highlights the intense interest in the smart glasses market and Meta's existing advantages in the field.
