Apple has been working on AI smart glasses for some time, both to compete against Meta Ray-Bans and to provide a hardware platform for Siri and its Visual Intelligence features. While they were originally scheduled to be announced later this year and debut early next year, it has now been delayed and the release is now scheduled for late 2027, according to Bloomberg.
On the other hand, a cheaper and lighter version of the Apple Vision Pro, called Vision Air, could arrive in 2028, potentially 2029.
Apple smart glasses face new delay
When we first heard about Apple’s advanced efforts to launch smart glasses around this time last year, the company was on track to announce a pair later this year. Now, the deadlines have been slightly delayed and Apple will need an additional year, per year. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman:
There have been a few bumps in the road for Apple to become an eyewear giant. It had initially planned to introduce its smart glasses, codenamed N50, in late 2026 and ship in early 2027. But, as is often the case with major new Apple products, there have been delays. I’m told the company is now working to launch the glasses late next year.
While Siri is still on track to debut before the end of this year, the biggest development concern is that Apple’s visual AI technology might not be up to par by the end of this year. Apple doesn’t want to risk launching an unattractive product.
These glasses are largely being launched as a hardware platform for Apple Intelligence, although the product’s feature set will expand over time:
Apple’s first glasses will use design elements to stand out, with oval-shaped cameras, unique colors, and multiple frame styles. Over time, Apple believes the glasses could evolve into a health device and eventually incorporate augmented reality technologies capable of improving the way people see.
Lastly, Apple believes it has a huge opportunity here in the eyewear space and wants to capture potentially billions of people who rely on prescription glasses, wear sunglasses casually, or wear glasses as a fashion accessory. So it makes sense that the company would want to take more time to nail down the product offering.
Vision Air could debut in 2028-2029
Despite previous reports that Vision Air development was essentially archived In favor of the AI glasses described above, it seems that Apple is investing some resources again in their development. According to Mark Gurman, the thinner and lighter version of Apple’s Vision Pro could debut in late 2028 or 2029:
Apple has also been working on a thinner, lighter headset to succeed the $3,499 Vision Pro, but I don’t anticipate it launching before late 2028 or 2029. Apple needs to fix the design and pricing issues that made the first Vision Pro a flop, and that category will essentially be frozen until then.
2029 sounds very far away, but it’s also worth noting that the Vision Pro originally debuted about 3 years ago at WWDC 2023, so we’re actually the same amount of time away from the Vision Air as we were from the original Vision Pro. I’m not sure if that comparison is actually useful or just makes everyone feel old, but still, 2029 isn’t incredibly far away, and there’s still the optimistic case for late 2028.
It’s also worth noting that Gurman refers to the category as “on ice until then,” so we probably shouldn’t expect anything newer than the current-gen M5 Vision Pro until the Vision Air debuts in 2 or 3 years.
My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:
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