31st July 2026 – (Cupertino) Apple is said to have pushed back the unveiling of its long-rumoured smart glasses, with industry sources indicating the technology giant may now wait until its Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2027 to introduce the device.
The delay is understood to reflect Apple’s determination to strengthen privacy protections and differentiate its approach from rivals, particularly Meta, whose Ray-Ban smart glasses have drawn mounting criticism over data use and recording practices. Initially tipped for release much sooner, Apple’s entry into the AI eyewear market has reportedly been rescheduled as engineers refine safeguards designed to reassure consumers wary of wearable cameras.
Privacy is expected to sit at the heart of Apple’s strategy. The company has long positioned itself as a champion of user data protection and is believed to be developing glasses that rely heavily on on-device processing rather than cloud-based systems. Facial recognition features are unlikely to be included, and the firm is not expected to use customer recordings to train its artificial intelligence models. By limiting the volume of data transmitted externally, Apple aims to offer a more tightly controlled ecosystem than some competitors.
The move comes at a time when Meta’s smart glasses have faced public backlash, with critics raising concerns about covert filming and consent. Viral online content has fuelled debate about the ethics of discreet recording in public spaces, while lawmakers in several regions have scrutinised the visibility of recording indicators on Meta’s devices. The controversy has prompted wider discussion about whether wearable cameras should be more clearly regulated.
Reports suggest Apple has even considered scaling back or omitting video-recording functions altogether, though doing so could weaken one of the category’s key attractions — the ability to capture everyday moments hands-free. One possibility under discussion is a model in which the camera primarily supports AI-driven tasks such as object recognition or navigation assistance, rather than conventional photography and video.
When Apple does eventually unveil its device, it is expected to follow a similar rollout model to that used for the Vision Pro headset, presenting both hardware and software to developers well ahead of a commercial launch. Such an approach would allow app creators to prepare experiences that integrate closely with the iPhone and the broader iOS ecosystem, an advantage Apple has historically leveraged in expanding its wearable portfolio.
The competitive landscape is intensifying. Meta currently dominates the AI smart glasses segment through its partnership with eyewear manufacturer EssilorLuxottica, while Samsung recently introduced its own intelligent eyewear platform developed alongside Google and fashion eyewear brands. Analysts believe the arrival of Apple and Samsung could push the niche product category further into the mainstream, provided consumer trust can be secured.