Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo published a new roadmap forecast for Apple’s Vision headsets and upcoming smart glasses. Apple is apparently going all-out on the smart glasses front with no less than four models being in development.
The first will be a Ray-Ban Meta competitor with camera and video recording capabilities, speakers and a voice-controlled user interface and AI features. They are expected to enter mass production in Q2, 2027 and Kuo predicts Apple will reach 3–5 million unit shipments in 2027.
The first-generation Apple glasses will offer several material finishes for the temples and frames. Apple’s first smart glasses entry is also expected to raise demand for the smart glasses category across other brands, with the product category expected to reach 10 million shipments in 2027.
Apple is also working on extended reality (XR) glasses with liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) displays, voice controls and gestures. These are expected to enter mass production in Q2 2028.
Kuo also mentions an additional “display accessory” pair of glasses that connect to an Apple device, including the iPhone. These were supposed to enter mass production in Q2, 2026, but are now paused for refinement.
The Vision series of headsets is also getting new models with an updated Vision Pro equipped with the Apple M5 chipset to debut later this year. It will apparently begin mass production soon, in Q3 (July-September) and is expected to get a production run of 150,000 – 200,000 units.
Apple is apparently not launching any new Vision device in 2026, but Kuo believes there are at least three new headsets in development, which are due to launch in 2027 and 2028.
The Vision Air is expected to arrive in Q3, 2027, with a lightweight form factor that’s 40% lighter than the Vision Pro (600-650 grams). It will be equipped with an “iPhone-grade processor”, a magnesium alloy chassis, fewer sensors and plastic optics all in the name of weight reduction. This version is expected to gain broader appeal among consumers and will naturally arrive with a lower starting price.
The second-generation Vision Pro is expected to enter mass production in Q2, 2028 with a revamped design, new M-series chip all with a lighter design and less intimidating price tag.
