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Apple Stops Work on Camera-Equipped Apple Watch Planned for 2027
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So you mean - Apple canceled development of their „AR Glasses“ - next?According to the Bloomberg report, Apple has accelerated development of their AR glasses, so probably right
Apple Now Eyes 2026 for Glasses, Scraps Camera Watch: Report | iPhone in Canada
Apple plans to launch AI-powered smart glasses by late 2026, according to Bloomberg. Camera-equipped Apple Watch plans have been shelved.www.iphoneincanada.ca
I've seen "no photography" zones at airports where you cannot take photographs, but I don't recall traveling through an airport or across a border and not being able to take my phone with me.
Apple abandoned the project after they watched the Google I/O keynote and then started rumors about glasses… which will also never be delivered.
Indeed.
I'm not saying they should not add a camera to the watch (or to some models of the watch)
It would have it's uses I'm sure.
If they wanted to tell one team to "get on with it" then that's great.
I'm personally just not keep on Apple putting too much focus on a "nice to have" feature for a current project, and focus on much bigger things.
Speak for yourself. I’d love to leave my phone at home and simply use a lightweight Apple Watch, especially when running. However, being able to take photos is almost a safety feature these days.
Always fascinating to hear they stopped work on an imaginary device.
Yeah, I’m hoping that this is a sign that the recent shakeup inside Apple is headed in the correct direction and will take deep root. Just sticking a camera on it is feature bloat to the extreme. Sure Apple has given us a lot of things that we didn’t know we wanted until we had it, but I suspect this very likely wasn’t one of them. Hopefully instead they are doubling down on new fitness and health features, which is kinda the whole point.
Sounds like you're construction or warehousing? I work in a professional office with HVAC. Everyone wears dress shirts, jackets, blazers, etc. The people who wear short sleeves are mostly women.
A watch with a camera wouldn't work for the vast majority of office professionals.
Apple is completely, utterly lost these days - no vision, no leadership, just a bunch of committees launching crap in the air to see if it sticks.
Even Spindler’s time was not as pathetic as this.
Even Spindler’s time was not as pathetic as this.
No camera in Apple Watch, no purchase. It is a deal breaker. And there are more: Apple should make Watch Ultra truly standalone, without any dependency, not requiring other device to setup and use. No, I do not want an iPhone; even for free! Free your mind and your hands! Allowing to install any application including web browsers like Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Edge, etc. Add a camera to read QR codes, etc; best if it is telescopic rotating retractable camera in the crown neck (protecting from dust and sweat, besides privacy). Then I am sold, even for 1,000 USD or more.
Amazing how many people didn't read past the headline.. it was not supposed to be a FaceTime camera OR for taking photos, but for AI... probably located on the top Side or next to the dial. Point it at things to find out information.
"An Apple Watch might have been able to do things like provide hours when pointed at a restaurant or store, identify a plant, describe an object, or offer language translations. The wearable camera functionality would have worked much like Visual Intelligence, an AI iPhone feature that lets users point their camera at something to get more information."
A FaceTime camera would be cool but would eat the tiny battery fast.
"An Apple Watch might have been able to do things like provide hours when pointed at a restaurant or store, identify a plant, describe an object, or offer language translations. The wearable camera functionality would have worked much like Visual Intelligence, an AI iPhone feature that lets users point their camera at something to get more information."
A FaceTime camera would be cool but would eat the tiny battery fast.
Here is a hint: they were never working on a watch with a camera in it.
Step 1: Make up a rumour.
Step 2: Say the made-up rumor has been delayed or cancelled.
Step 3: Profit off clicks.
I keep seeing this example thrown each time someone talks about Visual Intelligence, and I have a hard time thinking it’s really useful. I mean, how long will it take to recognize the restaurant or store, pull the opening hours from the web, hoping they are available and correct and up to date and display them on a tiny screen or read them aloud, compared to just cross the street (maybe) and check it directly on the door? Even using the zoom on the iPhone camera to read it from 10 meters away would still be probably more convenient.
Maybe Visual Intelligence can be useful for blind people?
Else, it’s certainly not yet at such a level that I could trust it to tell me what is something that I couldn’t recognize myself…
I would have liked a point and shoot/FaceTime cam on the watch but that was never in the plans, truth is if it had that it could easily replace my iPhone… perhaps that’s why they have not done it. I use my iPad at home and when out I mostly just use the phone to text and take photos…. The watch health features have never been an interest to me
Well I want to take pictures when I'm out running and make video calls on the watch and I don't want to lug a massive smartphone around to do it. So I'll go against the flow on this one and give it a big harrumph
I really do not see any benefit to having a camera on the Apple Watch with the exception of FaceTime calls. However as it would be ergonomically bad to hold your arm up for a long call, you would basically only use the Apple Watch for short calls. I know many people have asked for this, but it really does not make sense.
Apple is no longer planning to release an Apple Watch that includes a camera, reports Bloomberg. Apple was developing Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra models that had a camera to view the wearer's surrounding environment, but work on those projects ended this week.
The camera in the Apple Watch would not have been used for features like FaceTime or snapping photos, but instead would have allowed Apple Watch owners to get information about objects and places near them.
An Apple Watch might have been able to do things like provide hours when pointed at a restaurant or store, identify a plant, describe an object, or offer language translations. The wearable camera functionality would have worked much like Visual Intelligence, an AI iPhone feature that lets users point their camera at something to get more information.
Apple planned to release the camera-equipped Apple Watch models in 2027, but the plans are off. It's possible Apple could bring the technology back in the future, and it's not known why development ended.
Though Apple is no longer planning for an Apple Watch with a camera, it's still developing AirPods with tiny cameras inside. The AirPods cameras may be infrared sensors to enable features like enhanced spatial audio, in-air gesture control, and AI capabilities.
Article Link: Apple Stops Work on Camera-Equipped Apple Watch Planned for 2027
I do not see the big value in having a camera on a watch. I'm betting Apple didn't either after building one.
those features are better equipped for the ar glasses we needed the camera on the watch for FaceTime calls/ selfies on the go
It needs better battery life like the Ultra. The only features to add are BP, blood glucose eventually, and bring back the O2. I’m not pointing my watch at anything.