Apple Smart Glasses Not Close to Being Ready as Meta Targets 2025 [Gurman]

Apple's smart glasses project, code-named N50, is still in its early stages and "isn't close to being ready yet," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in a recent newsletter to subscribers. Even with Apple's track record for crafting sleek, innovative devices, its work on smart glasses is moving slowly.

The N50 glasses are being built to tap into Apple Intelligence, designed to "analyze the surrounding environment and feed information to the wearer," Gurman writes, though they won't deliver full augmented reality features. Apple's skill in squeezing tech into small packages, as seen with the Apple Watch and AirPods, hasn't yet produced a finished smart glasses product. With no word on a launch date, the project still has a long road ahead.

Alongside the glasses, Apple is working on camera-equipped AirPods that would provide similar environmental analysis capabilities. Gurman points out there's a "sizable group of consumers who don't want something in their ears all day," suggesting the glasses and AirPods could complement each other. Still, like the N50, these AirPods are not ready, showing Apple's careful approach to these new product types.

Meta, on the other hand, is racing to roll out high-end smart glasses by October 2025. These will cost over $1,000 and include a small display for simple apps and viewing photos, a step up from Meta's current glasses, which have already found a following. Gurman says Meta's bosses have told workers to "accelerate their work," with some putting in weekend shifts to hit the deadline, though there's a "slight risk" of a delay. Meta's hustle highlights the buzz around smart glasses and their edge in this market.

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