Apple’s long-rumoured smart glasses are now not expected to launch until late 2027, with delays to the company’s overhauled Siri platform understood to be holding up the project.

The device, internally codenamed N50, was originally tipped to be introduced late this year before shipping in early 2027.

That timeline has now slipped, giving Meta more time to extend its lead in the smart glasses market with its Ray-Ban Meta range.

Apple’s glasses are expected to rely heavily on a new version of Siri, which is also tipped to be a major focus at next week’s WWDC 2026.

The revamped assistant is expected to bring more advanced AI features, deeper app control and stronger on-device processing, but delays to the project have reportedly affected several Apple product categories.

Those delays are significant because Apple’s smart glasses strategy appears to be built around voice, cameras and AI rather than a full augmented reality display at launch.

The first version is expected to include cameras, multiple frame styles and several colour options, while connecting closely with the iPhone and Apple’s broader ecosystem.

Future models could add health features and eventually augmented reality capabilities, although true AR glasses are not expected before the end of the decade.

The opportunity is substantial. Apple is believed to be targeting the global eyewear market, estimated at around US$200 billion, with a device aimed at the US$200 to US$500 segment. That would put it directly into competition with Meta, which has spent the past two years building momentum with AI-enabled glasses.

The move also mirrors Apple’s approach with the Apple Watch, where the company entered a fashion-led category and turned it into a major consumer technology business.

However, unlike the smartwatch market at the time, smart glasses are already developing quickly and Meta has a clear head start.

WWDC 2026, which starts on June 8 in the US, is expected to reveal more about Apple’s AI direction, including iOS 27, updates to Apple Intelligence and a major Siri overhaul.

Those software announcements may provide the clearest indication yet of how close Apple is to making smart glasses a mainstream product.