Apple is reportedly delaying its long-awaited smart glasses in part because internal teams are still working through significant privacy concerns, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Teams within Apple's Vision hardware group and elsewhere are said to view privacy as their top priority, given the sensitivity of camera-equipped wearable devices and Apple's broader reputation for prioritising user data protection. The delay illustrates the tension Apple faces between entering a fast-growing product category and maintaining the privacy standards it has built its brand around.

To address these concerns, Apple is reportedly developing new hardware and software privacy features not found in its existing products, including a Meta-style safeguard that disables recording if the indicator light appears to have been tampered with. The company is also said to be considering more limited hardware options, such as a camera-free version or one with a camera system that cannot actually capture photos or video. Originally expected this year, the glasses are now reportedly slated for a reveal at WWDC 2027 with a release by the end of that year, giving Apple time to observe how privacy issues play out for rivals like Meta, whose AI glasses currently face a class action lawsuit.