The recent launch of Meta’s Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses appears to have pushed Apple to accelerate its own smart glasses development.
Bloomberg reports that Apple has halted work on the “Vision Air”, a lighter, more affordable version of the Vision Pro originally slated for launch in 2027.
The Vision Air had been positioned as part of a two-pronged strategy to expand the Vision Pro lineup and address early adopters’ concerns. Resources are now being redirected to smart glasses.
Apple is reportedly working on at least two pairs of smart glasses. The first, expected to be unveiled as soon as next year and to launch in 2027, will not have a built-in display and instead pair with an iPhone. A more advanced model with an integrated display is said to be in the works, with plans for a release in 2028.
Potential features include Apple-designed chips, cameras, microphones, health-tracking capabilities, and AI integration. Multiple frame styles and materials may also be offered.
Apple is trailing Meta in the smart glasses market as Meta has released several models since 2023. Bloomberg previously reported Apple remained in the experimental stage, exploring concepts for its smart glasses. The company is also believed to be working on a version of visionOS for smart glasses, as evident in the new Spatial Widgets introduced in visionOS 26, which appear to be designed with smart glasses in mind.