Apple 2026: Smart Glasses Slip to Late 2027, Meta Gains Year
Apple has pushed its first consumer smart glasses, codenamed N50, from late 2026 into late 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The delay hands Meta — which already controls more than 70% of the global smart glasses market — another full holiday cycle before Cupertino's iPhone-tethered rival arrives.
James covers AI, agentic AI systems, gaming innovation, smart farming, telecommunications, and AI in film production. Technology analyst focused on startup ecosystems.
LONDON, Friday, June 5, 2026 — Apple has slipped its first consumer smart glasses to late 2027, pushing the device — codenamed N50 — out of the 2026 holiday window and handing Meta another twelve months of near-monopoly in the fastest-growing wearables category. The delay was reported May 31 by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter and quickly corroborated across the Apple press. Bloomberg's reporting frames the slip as the centerpiece of outgoing CEO Tim Cook's wearables strategy before he hands the company to John Ternus on Sept. 1.
The competitive math is brutal. Meta captured 72.2% of global XR device shipments in 2025, according to IDC, and Counterpoint Research pegs its smart-glasses-only share even higher. Apple now arrives — if it arrives — into a market where the category leader has had four uninterrupted years to define the form factor. Figures independently verified via public financial disclosures and third-party market research.
Key Takeaways
- Apple's first smart glasses, codenamed N50, have slipped from late 2026 to late 2027, per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
- Global XR device shipments grew 44.4% in 2025, with smart glasses driving nearly all of the growth, IDC data shows.
- Meta led with 72.2% market share in 2025, supported by its EssilorLuxottica partnership and a new Oakley-branded line.
- Meta is using the window to push a Ray-Ban Display refresh and revive its long-shelved smartwatch project for a 2026 launch.
- Google's Android XR, Samsung's Project HAEAN, and Chinese rivals Xiaomi, Rokid and TCL-RayNeo now have an extra year to consolidate before Apple lands.
Context & Analysis
Apple's original plan was to unveil N50 by the end of 2026 and ship in early 2027, according to TechTimes citing Gurman. The glasses were positioned in the $200–$500 range with built-in cameras, microphones and speakers, but no in-lens display in the first generation. Gurman reported Apple's first model will not carry in-screen AR display capabilities like Meta's Ray-Ban Display for at least a few years.
That is essentially a copy of Meta's playbook, two years late. Ray-Ban Meta glasses have sold more than 2 million units since launching in October 2023, and Meta sold roughly seven million Ray-Ban units in 2025, approximately double the prior year. EssilorLuxottica's share price has rerated on the strength of the partnership; the Italian eyewear group's wearables unit was the standout in its recent quarterly results.
The N50 delay also reshuffles internal Apple priorities. Sources told Gurman that Tim Cook is making development of these wearables his "top priority" before passing the company reins over to his successor John Ternus on Sept. 1. Ternus has been leading Apple's Vision Products Group for the past two years.
For deeper context, see our related analysis: "Inside Apple's 2026 Health Wearables Push — And What Garmin and Samsung".
Related: Global Wearables Outlook 2026: Enterprise Adoption Accelerates
| Company | Position | Recent Move | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Entrant (delayed) | N50 smart glasses slipped to late 2027 | Bloomberg |
| Meta | Category leader (~72% share) | Ray-Ban Display refresh; Oakley line; smartwatch revival | PYMNTS |
| Google / Samsung | Platform challenger | Android XR rollout with Qualcomm; Project HAEAN glasses | DataM Intelligence |
| Xiaomi / Rokid / RayNeo | Asian challengers | Rokid 34% share of "AR+AI" glasses H2 2025 | 36Kr |
Competitive Landscape
Meta is not standing still during Apple's grace period. According to a February report from The Information, Meta has resurrected its smartwatch project, planning to unveil it later in 2026 with health-tracking features and the company's AI system built in. Meta also plans a new version of the Ray-Ban Display, the first version of which went on sale last year for $799.
Google and Samsung are the second front. Samsung and Google announced an Android XR operating system co-developed with Qualcomm, combining Android's XR with Google's Gemini multimodal AI. Samsung's Project HAEAN glasses sit on top of that stack. China is the third front: in the second half of 2025 more than 90% of global "AR+AI" glasses shipments came from China and the United States, with Rokid's shipments accounting for 34% of the global market share, ahead of Meta and Even Realities. This trajectory mirrors patterns observed across adjacent technology sectors. Per management commentary in investor presentations, that market conditions support continued investment.
Related: Frontline Work Goes Hands-Free as Microsoft, Meta, Zebra Trigger December Wearables Push
For deeper context, see our Wearables analysis: "Temple & Zomato Founder Deepinder Goyal Target Brain Wearables Market 2026".
| Company | Category | Key Development | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta | Smart glasses + smartwatch | Ray-Ban Display v2; Oakley Vanguards; 2026 smartwatch | Extends lead in display-less segment |
| EssilorLuxottica | Eyewear / distribution | Meta partnership drove Q3 2025 sales +11.7% to €6.9B | Owns the retail moat Apple must penetrate |
| Samsung + Google | Android XR platform | Galaxy XR headset shipping; HAEAN glasses next | Only credible iPhone-alternative ecosystem |
| Rokid / Thunderbird | AR+AI glasses (China) | Rokid #1 AR+AI share; Thunderbird eSIM glasses | Define mid-range price tier globally |
| Xiaomi | AI glasses (China-led) | Two models; multimodal AI integration | Volume threat in APAC |
What It Means
For Enterprise Buyers
The N50 delay locks in Meta's Wearables Device Access Toolkit as the de facto enterprise SDK for at least 18 more months. Meta launched its Wearables Device Access Toolkit in developer preview in December 2025, granting access to camera, audio, and sensor capabilities, with broader availability expected later this year. Procurement teams piloting hands-free field service or clinical documentation should assume Ray-Ban Meta hardware will be the reference platform through 2027.
For Investors
EssilorLuxottica is the cleanest public-market proxy on the trend, given Apple cannot meaningfully respond before its September 2027 product cycle. Shares in EssilorLuxottica surged 14% on the back of its latest financial results, driving total market value to a record high of almost US$20 billion. Apple's wearables revenue line — bundled in Services and Wearables — will likely show no smart-glasses contribution before fiscal 2028.
Related: Wearables 2026: Key Players, Market Insights, and Future Trends
Additional coverage: How Wearables Is Driving Enterprise Value in 2026, According to Apple, Samsung and Gartner
Forward Outlook
Watch three milestones. First, Meta Connect in September 2026, where the Ray-Ban Display refresh and the revived smartwatch are expected to debut. Second, Apple's WWDC keynote next week, where Cupertino may preview a visionOS-adjacent glasses SDK to keep developers from defecting to Android XR. Third, IDC expects glasses with displays to gain meaningful traction by 2027, ultimately surpassing VR and MR headsets in overall shipment volume — the exact window Apple is now ceding.
Additional coverage: Enterprise Wearables Move From Pilots to Core Infrastructure
Related: Global Wearables Outlook 2026: Enterprise Adoption Accelerates
Related: Top 10 AI Wearables Scaling Strategies for Growth-Stage Companies in 2026
FAQ
Why did Apple delay its smart glasses?
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on May 31 that developmental delays have pushed the N50 release into late 2027 instead of the previously expected late 2026 reveal and early 2027 ship. Apple has not publicly confirmed the timeline.
How large is Meta's lead in smart glasses?
IDC put Meta's share of the global XR device market at 72.2% in 2025, while Counterpoint Research's smart-glasses-only data puts the figure even higher. Meta sold roughly seven million Ray-Ban units in 2025.
What features will Apple's first glasses have?
According to Gurman, the N50 will target $200–$500, come in multiple acetate styles, and include built-in cameras, microphones and speakers. The first generation will not include an in-lens AR display.
Who benefits most from Apple's delay?
Meta and EssilorLuxottica directly, given they own the leading hardware and distribution. Android XR partners Samsung, Google and Qualcomm gain a wider runway, as do Chinese AR+AI players Rokid, Thunderbird, Xiaomi and TCL-RayNeo.
How fast is the broader smart glasses market growing?
IDC reports global XR shipments grew 44.4% in 2025 and forecasts another 33.5% in 2026, with the vast majority of growth coming from smart glasses rather than VR or MR headsets. The five-year CAGR through 2030 is projected at 26.5%.
Sources include company disclosures, regulatory filings, analyst reports, and industry briefings.
Related Coverage
About the Author
James Park
AI & Emerging Tech Reporter
James covers AI, agentic AI systems, gaming innovation, smart farming, telecommunications, and AI in film production. Technology analyst focused on startup ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Apple delay its smart glasses?
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on May 31 that developmental delays have pushed the N50 release into late 2027 instead of the previously expected late 2026 reveal and early 2027 ship. Apple has not publicly confirmed the timeline.
How large is Meta's lead in smart glasses?
IDC put Meta's share of the global XR device market at 72.2% in 2025, while Counterpoint Research's smart-glasses-only data puts the figure even higher. Meta sold roughly seven million Ray-Ban units in 2025.
What features will Apple's first glasses have?
According to Gurman, the N50 will target $200–$500, come in multiple acetate styles, and include built-in cameras, microphones and speakers. The first generation will not include an in-lens AR display.
Who benefits most from Apple's delay?
Meta and EssilorLuxottica directly, given they own the leading hardware and distribution. Android XR partners Samsung, Google and Qualcomm gain a wider runway, as do Chinese AR+AI players Rokid, Thunderbird, Xiaomi and TCL-RayNeo.
How fast is the broader smart glasses market growing?
IDC reports global XR shipments grew 44.4% in 2025 and forecasts another 33.5% in 2026, with the vast majority of growth coming from smart glasses rather than VR or MR headsets. The five-year CAGR through 2030 is projected at 26.5%.
