According to the journalist, the company has stepped up work on smart glasses, a pendant-style device, and AirPods with advanced AI capabilities. All three gadgets are built around Siri, which is being redesigned to use visual context when performing tasks. The devices will feature cameras and integrate closely with the iPhone.

Smart glasses

The smart glasses, codenamed N50, are expected to be the most advanced product in the lineup. In recent months, Apple has made progress by distributing a larger batch of prototypes within its engineering teams.

Mass production is tentatively scheduled for December, with a market launch planned for 2027.

The glasses will not include a display. Instead, the interface will rely on speakers, microphones, and cameras. Users will be able to make calls, interact with Siri, perform context-aware actions, listen to music, and take photos.

Apple aims to differentiate the product in two key areas: build quality and imaging technology. The design is said to use premium materials, including acrylic elements, to create the feel of a high-end gadget.

The glasses will feature two cameras: a high-resolution camera for photography and a second camera dedicated to computer vision. The latter will help the device understand its surroundings, interpret space more accurately, and measure distances between objects.

Apple’s goal is to create an AI companion capable of understanding what the user sees in real time. For example, a person could look at an object and ask Siri for information about it. More advanced use cases, such as printed text recognition, are also being explored.

Pendant and AirPods

As alternatives to smart glasses, Apple is also developing a pendant-style device and upgraded AirPods. The pendant is envisioned as an accessory for the iPhone rather than a standalone product. It would function as an always-on camera for the smartphone and include a microphone for interacting with Siri.

Apple is testing two main ways to wear the pendant: clipped to clothing or worn as a necklace.

The project is still in its early stages and could be canceled. If development continues, the device could be released as early as next year.

The next-generation AirPods are expected to launch in 2026. Apple is gradually adding AI-powered features to them, including real-time translation.

In the longer term, the company plans to develop smart glasses with an augmented reality display.

Betting on AI

Despite stable iPhone sales, Apple is looking to catch up with competitors in artificial intelligence. Upgrading Siri has become one of the company’s key challenges, with improvements to the voice assistant repeatedly delayed.

At an internal meeting earlier this month, CEO Tim Cook reportedly said Apple intends to focus on AI-driven devices.

The company expects artificial intelligence to reshape how people use smartphones, with more functionality shifting to peripheral devices. Meta’s smart glasses have already gained traction, while OpenAI is working on its own line of hardware.

Apple is trying to carve out its place in this emerging space. Its most recent major hardware release, the high-priced Vision Pro headset, failed to gain widespread consumer adoption. Now, the company is betting on accelerated development of wearable devices to deliver a breakthrough and keep users within its ecosystem.