Smart glasses roadmap: what Apple allegedly plans for VR and AI glasses
Apple is reportedly working on at least five pairs of computer glasses to boost the Vision division. The problem children are Siri and AI.
(Image: Leo Becker)
Pocket, wrist, bridge of the nose: In addition to smartphones and smartwatches, Apple is apparently also hoping for smart glasses as a future driving force. The manufacturer is working on “at least seven projects”, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's forecast; five of these have a concrete timetable. It has been apparent for some time that Apple is pursuing a two-pronged approach in this area: In addition to a classic VR headset, the company is also developing “smart glasses”.
Apple Glasses, probably by the end of 2026 at the earliest
The first “Apple Glasses” are therefore similar to the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses – that are already available, i.e., classic glasses or sunglasses without a display function. The focus there is on music playback, telephony/messaging, camera and AI functions. They are controlled by voice and possibly also gestures. According to Kuo, Apple's first smart glasses will not be ready for mass production until spring 2027, while other observers expect them to be launched at the end of 2026.
According to the analyst, Apple is not planning to launch proper extended reality glasses with a transparent display until the second half of 2028. These glasses will rely on a reflective LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) microdisplay and use optical waveguides to project the image into the field of vision.
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The market for smart glasses currently seems to be picking up speed. Meta's Ray-Ban glasses are considered a sales success, and the range was recently expanded to include an Oakley model. Google also wants to enter the market soon with Android XR, with its hardware partners and eyewear manufacturers. The core element of these smart glasses is control via voice commands and AI assistants – an area in which Apple is currently struggling massively. The company has had to postpone promised Siri innovations until 2026.
Vision Pro 2 and Vision Air in the distant future
According to the roadmap, Apple is also sticking to VR headsets: the company wants to launch a new Vision Pro with an M5 chip this year, writes Kuo. Apart from the chip upgrade, the device will remain virtually unchanged, so only small quantities are planned. A Vision Pro 2 with major changes is therefore not expected until the end of 2028.
However, according to Kuo, Apple plans to introduce a significantly lighter “Vision Air” at a lower price point in fall 2027. The innovations in VisionOS 26 underline the fact that the company is focusing on important groundwork. These include widgets and digital windows that can be firmly anchored in the physical space, as well as a significantly improved “persona” of the wearer for video conferences.
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