Apple is reportedly preparing its first smart glasses and upcoming Apple Watch models. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s smart glasses could be introduced as early as WWDC 2027, while the company is currently testing three new Apple Watch models, including the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Apple smart glasses privacy concerns
Apple’s first smart glasses, internally codenamed N50, are reportedly targeted for an introduction as early as June 2027 at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), followed by a consumer release later that year.
The company is expected to announce the glasses ahead of launch to allow developers to build applications for the new form factor. However, Apple is working on addressing privacy concerns around camera-equipped smart glasses, which have increased due to concerns surrounding Meta’s smart glasses.
According to Gurman, Apple’s Vision hardware group and other teams working on the glasses consider privacy a key priority. The company is reportedly refining both the hardware and privacy approach before launch.
Apple is expected to focus on privacy-related features, including:
- On-device processing for handling data locally.
- Avoiding facial recognition features.
- Not using customer recordings to train AI models.
- Avoiding a system similar to Meta’s “super-sensing” mode, which continuously analyses the wearer’s surroundings.
The company is reportedly developing additional hardware and software privacy features. Apple is expected to avoid practices such as having contractors review footage captured by the glasses, following earlier concerns related to Siri recordings.
During development, Apple has explored multiple camera approaches for the smart glasses. These include:
- Smart glasses without cameras that could still provide AI features, audio playback, and phone call support.
- A camera system limited to AI-powered visual features without allowing photo or video recording.
However, removing camera recording capabilities could limit features such as capturing first-person photos and videos, which have contributed to the popularity of smart glasses.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 details
Apple is reportedly in late-stage testing of three new Apple Watch models for 2026. The lineup includes:
- Apple Watch Series 12 Wi-Fi-only model (codenamed N237)
- Apple Watch Series 12 cellular model (codenamed N238)
- Apple Watch Ultra 4 (codenamed N240)
Gurman reports that Apple is not currently planning a new Apple Watch SE model for 2026. This follows the launch of the Apple Watch SE 3 in 2025 and the longer refresh cycle typically associated with the SE lineup.
The upcoming Apple Watch models are not expected to receive a major design change. Instead, Apple is reportedly focusing on internal improvements, including:
- Health and fitness tracking updates.
- Newer chips and improved performance.
- Internal hardware upgrades.
Apple is working on a larger Apple Watch redesign, but that update is not expected to arrive for another one or two years. The company continues development of blood glucose monitoring technology, with a possible launch later this decade.
With more months of development ahead, additional details about Apple’s smart glasses and Apple Watch lineup are expected to surface as the products move closer to launch.