It’s the year 2027, and Apple has just unveiled its revolutionary new product: the Apple Vision. This augmented reality device has a sleek, futuristic design and promises to completely change the way we interact with technology.
Apple is the company where we have heard a lot of rumors about their strategy to produce smart glasses and other headwear devices, but it turns out that their plans are bigger than we initially imagined. As one analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, has revealed, Apple currently has at least 7 various head-borne devices in development.
The analyst states in his report that Apple sees this as the next largest trend in consumer electronics, the head-mounted device. O, which is perhaps the reason it is putting in so much effort in coming up with alternative solutions.
There are three products out of the Vision series and smart glasses of four distinct types. All of them are unlikely to be made available till 2026, and the initial releases will be made in 2027. Kuo asserts that 5 of these products have received confirmed development schedules, with the remaining 2 yet to be determined (TBD).
Apple's Next-Generation Head-Borne Devices: Apple is developing at least seven different head-mounted devices, indicating their focus on this major consumer electronics trend, with initial releases expected around 2027.The Apple Vision Series and Smart Glasses: Among the upcoming products are the Vision series, including smart glasses resembling Ray-Ban designs, with mass production expected to begin in 2027, and the Vision Pro with enhanced features.Features of the Apple Vision Pro and Vision Air: The Vision Pro will serve mainly as an audio device with cameras, AI, and voice controls, while the lighter, more affordable Vision Air is anticipated for mass production in Q3 2027, featuring a new flagship processor.The Introduction of Apple XR Glasses in 2028: Apple plans to release XR glasses with color displays, voice, and gesture controls, emphasizing AI integration, aiming for late 2028, alongside a tethered display accessory that was shelved.Market Competition and Future Challenges: With competitors like Meta, Google, Samsung, and others developing advanced AR and XR glasses, Apple faces significant rivalry, making the 2027 target increasingly ambitious.
What are those 7 head-worn devices by Apple?
The first new product that is coming appears to be the smart glasses, which resemble the Ray-Ban and are expected to ship 3-5 million units in 2027. Nevertheless, he thinks that a Vision Pro powered by M5, otherwise unchanged compared to the current one, will attain mass production in Q3 this year.
These glasses will not be used as displays; Kuo insists that they will only be an audio playback machine and will use cameras, video recording, and an artificial intelligence that will be able to analyze the surrounding world. It will also apparently have voice and gesture controls that accompany it.
The report by Kuo predicts the production of a lightweight, pared-down version of the device named “Vision Air” that would make it to mass production in Q3 2027, weighing 40 percent less, its price being lower price, and the latest flagship processor of Apple.
In the meantime, the 2nd generation Vision Pro will be released at the end of 2028, featuring a new lighter design, cheaper price, and Mac-grade chip.
Apple’s XR glasses
In terms of glasses, late 2028 is also when Kuo predicts a set of XR glasses will arrive, complete with a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) color display, plus voice and gesture controls. AI support is said to be critical to its success.
There was also reportedly some form of tethered display accessory under development, though that has been shelved since last year. It seems that this was not made ready in time since it lacks something that Apple requires to compete more effectively with the competing products.
It is not clear just what the seventh final device will be, and Kuo makes no further elaboration on what this might be.
Even though this is far away, between Meta destroying the room with Project Orion AR glasses and existing products such as Ray-Ban and Oakley Epson smart glasses, Google Androids XR glasses, Samsung Project Moohan, and upcoming projects such as Xreal, Apple has its hands full.
The rivalry is getting clear, and at this point, 2027 looks incredibly out of reach.
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