Apple is gearing up for a bold push into wearable tech, and recent leaks from reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest the company’s long-term roadmap is more ambitious than expected. With seven products in the pipeline – including three Vision XR headsets and four smart glasses models – Apple is preparing to go all-in on head-mounted computing starting in 2027.
The biggest move? A pair of audio-first smart glasses styled like Ray-Bans, set to hit mass production in Q2 2027.
While these won’t include a visual display, they’re designed as all-day wearables with audio playback, video recording, voice commands, gesture control, and smart AI features. Apple’s bet here is to replace your earbuds and smartphone camera in one sleek device. Several style options are planned, making them fashion-friendly and functional.
This model is expected to ship 3–5 million units in its first year alone, pushing total smart glasses market volume over the 10 million mark – a major leap for the category.
In 2028, Apple plans to introduce an advanced pair of XR glasses with waveguide optics and full-color display panels. Controlled entirely by voice and hand gestures, these will blur the line between reality and augmented experiences. Apple aims to make these part of the everyday tech stack by integrating tightly with Siri and the broader Apple ecosystem.
Meanwhile, a display-only wearable – once set for 2026 – has been shelved due to lack of competitive weight and unclear value. However, the concept could return in a lighter form in the future.
On the Vision XR headset side, Apple is prepping a Vision Pro refresh for Q3 2025 with the newer M5 chip, although only 150,000–200,000 units will be produced – a stopgap to keep the platform alive. In 2027, the Vision Air will debut as a lighter and cheaper XR headset using iPhone-level components, a magnesium alloy frame, and plastic optics. At 40% lighter than the current Vision Pro, it aims for better comfort and accessibility.
The Vision Pro 2 is in the works for late 2028 and will offer a redesigned chassis, Mac-grade performance, and a more affordable price. Apple clearly wants to lead both the high-end and mass-market XR battles.
With rivals like Meta, Google, and Samsung also investing heavily in wearables, competition will be fierce – but that’s good news for consumers. Apple’s proven strengths in hardware design, custom silicon, and ecosystem integration could make it the company to beat in the next generation of spatial computing.
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