Anyone who regularly wears glasses knows that a trip to the optician is almost always a drain on the wallet. Between designer frames and prescription lenses, the bill rarely comes to less than two or three hundred euros, and that's if you don't go to luxury brands where the price skyrockets. This market, which has operated for decades under the same design and distribution rules, is Apple's new target. The Cupertino company doesn't simply want to launch another technological gadget, but rather It aims to replace traditional glasses. that millions of people wear every day out of necessity or fashion.
Although initial rumors pointed to an imminent release, the latest information suggests that we'll have to be a little patient. The project, known internally as N50, has had its timeline adjusted and is not expected to launch until late 2027. This move reflects the company's classic philosophy: they prefer to arrive late with a near-perfect product rather than release something half-baked that could disappoint their users. The goal is that, when you look in the mirror, you don't feel like you're wearing a computer on your face, but rather... a stylish accessory that also It's incredibly useful.
Apple's strategy: the mirror of the Apple Watch
To understand what Cupertino is aiming for with this launch, we only need to look back at what happened with smartwatches. Before the Apple Watch, the market was full of fitness trackers and devices that never quite caught on with the general public. Apple entered the scene not just selling technology, but selling a customizable fashion accessory. With smart glasses, the plan is exactly the same: to convince those who already have an iPhone that your next prescription frame It should bear the apple logo instead of being from a conventional luxury brand.
This is not an exclusive battle against Meta and her acquaintances Ray-Ban with AI and prescription lenseswho already dominate part of the sector. The approach is much more ambitious and aims directly at the world's largest optical groups. The idea is for the glasses to be so lightweight and stylish that anyone would want to wear them all day. To achieve this, they are working on at least four different frame styles, ranging from bold, rectangular designs to more rounded and understated options. All of this will be accompanied by a selection of colors that It will include shades like ocean blueLight brown and classic black, seeking to fit any type of face.
Discreet but intelligent hardware
As for what's inside, there's one technical decision that changes everything: there won't be screens on the lenses, at least not in this first generation. Forget about seeing graphics floating above the real world like with the... VisionProInstead, the focus of the experience will be on audio and voice. The glasses will incorporate directional speakers and high-quality microphones so that Siri can be our constant guide. We'll be able to receive directions for walking around the city, listen to notifications, or manage calls without having to take our phone out of our pocket, maintaining a full integration with the ecosystem that we already know.
The visual aspect will be handled by oval-shaped cameras, positioned vertically in the frame. These will not only capture moments but will also be the eyes of the artificial intelligence. The brand's major focus is its Visual Intelligence system, capable of identifying objects, reading text, and recognizing monuments in real time to provide instant information. However, it is precisely this technology that has caused the product delaybecause the required quality standards have not yet been met in internal software testing.
Price and positioning in the global market
One of the most discussed points is the price. A range of $200 to $500 is being considered, a very competitive figure according to [unclear - possibly "the sources"]. Rumors about the price of Apple glasseswhich places them squarely in the realm of mid-to-high-end sunglasses and designer frames from local opticians. Apple knows that if it wants mass success, it can't sell this product at prohibitive prices. The real business isn't in selling a niche device to enthusiasts, but in bite off a portion of the revenue generated by the global optical industry, valued at billions of euros annually.
Meanwhile, other projects like the Vision Air, a more affordable and lighter version of its mixed reality headset, appear to have been put on hold or frozen until 2028 or even 2029. This demonstrates that the absolute priority right now is the device we will naturally wear on our faces. Privacy will also be a fundamental pillar, as Apple plans to implement measures to ensure that the use of cameras in public spaces does not generate the backlash that other competitors have experienced, guaranteeing that the security of personal data be a hallmark of the product.
The time remaining until the end of 2027 will allow visual artificial intelligence to fully mature and become a truly useful tool for the user. Although Meta has a head start, Apple has the advantage of a loyal user base and an enviable network of physical stores where these frames can be fitted and adjusted. Ultimately, success will depend on whether they can make us forget we're wearing a technological device and simply feel that We wear glasses that make us Life a little easier without complicating our existence with strange configurations.
