Key to their success will be the newly revamped Siri AI, which is adding fine-grained control over apps. By adding those features now and letting developers add support on the iPhone first, it’s hoping that its smart glasses will be able to hit the ground running.
The prototypes, dubbed N50, are currently running a pared-down version of visionOS and a new processor based on its older smartwatch chips. They also have a MagSafe-like charger Gurman describes as “flat, rectangular” and “roughly the size of a Tic Tac,” which can be used even while still wearing the glasses.
In addition to Apple putting an emphasis on style, privacy, and audio quality, the company is also hoping that Wi-Fi connectivity will grant them a certain amount of freedom, despite relying on an iPhone to actually execute many tasks:
The glasses have Wi-Fi, allowing certain functions outside of third-party apps to continue working when the iPhone isn’t nearby. Users could theoretically keep listening to audio over Wi-Fi after walking away from their phones, for instance, though the eyewear won’t operate as a fully independent device. Apple is also emphasizing the sound quality, which employees have said is industry-leading, with support for phone calls, music playback and FaceTime audio communication.