It’s a brand new day, and we just spotted a brand new set of Apple rumors coming our way. It appears that Apple is working on a collection of more head-mounted devices, with 7 separate products in the works. Trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed the company’s roadmap for Vision glasses and headsets, and it appears that the Vision Pro-maker is doubling down on its commitment to the product category.
Kuo’s leaks on the Apple wearable suggest that the company is determined to challenge the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which have currently single-handedly captivated the smart glasses category. The Apple wearable devices aren’t expected to land in 2025, but by 2027, the product segment could witness some serious expansion. We expect the Google smart glasses and a few other alternatives to also be released by then, so even with this vision for its future, Apple will have to pick up the pace of its releases in order to make a stand in the market.
Wear It, Flaunt It—7 Apple Headsets Expected by 2028
On February 2, 2024, Apple released its Vision Pro “spatial computer” headset, hoping it could revolutionize the headset market and create an entirely new and successful product line for the business. Despite their optimism, it is suggested that the Cupertino company sold far fewer of these headsets than it intended, with its capabilities and pricing both unsatisfactory to the end user.
Since then, there has been much debate over whether the company will bring out a cheaper variant of the device that caters to the masses, or if it will stick to the uber-premium pricing without justifiable reasons for the price tag. As it turns out, Apple could be doing a little bit of both with its head-mounted devices and the roadmap it has charted for its Vision glasses.
According to Kuo’s insight and leaks on the Apple wearables, “The company currently has at least seven projects in development, comprising three Vision series products and four smart glasses variants. Five of these products have confirmed development timelines, while two remain TBD.”
Three Stops Are Coming Up on the Vision Pro Timeline
Evidently, Apple hasn’t given up on the Vision Pro headsets and has a plan in place for continuing the headset’s legacy. An updated Vision Pro with an M5 chip and limited spec upgrades could be launched as soon as 2025. This is likely to be followed up with the cheaper Apple Vision Air in 2027, giving the company enough time to work on the necessary upgrades for the second-gen Vision Pro in 2028.
M5 Vision Pro
While it was previously believed that Apple was putting its Vision Pro product line on hold for this year, it now appears that the company could release a new version of the existing Vision Pro with an upgrade to the chipset that would let it stay up-to-date for the next two years. Mass productions are expected to begin in Q3 2025, with a shipment of 150,000-200,000 units by the end of the year.
Apple Vision Air
Apple could begin mass production of the Apple Vision Air—a cheaper and lighter alternative to the existing headset—in Q3 2027. This could feature a premium iPhone processor and a few essential sensors, but it will likely keep the capabilities to a minimum.
Apple Vision Pro 2
Next on the list of head-mounted Apple products, we have the second generation of the Vision Pro with an altered design, which could enter mass production in 2028. This next-gen headset could also be cheaper and lighter than the original.
Get Set for Some Smart Glasses from Apple
There are 7 Apple headsets expected by 2028, so while 3 are from the Vision Pro category, the rest are expected to establish and expand Apple’s presence in the smart glasses segment.
A Ray-Ban Meta Competitor
We already have a couple of different smart glasses on the market, but just like with the Meta Quest headsets, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses appear to be a fan favorite. Apple’s answer to the glasses should come in the form of a more bare-bones pair of simple frames with a camera, speaker, and a voice-controlled user interface.
These glasses are expected to enter mass production by Q2 in 2027, and could add up to 3–5 million unit shipments. This first-gen product is expected to be available in different materials with a range of finishes to up their appeal over the basic black-frame options on the market right now.
Two Extended Reality (XR) Glasses
Kuo’s leaks on Apple’s wearables also suggest that the company is working on XR smart glasses with Liquid Crystal on Silicon displays and support for voice commands and gestures. These could enter mass production in Q2 2028.
Display Accessory for Compatible Devices
Apple has reportedly paused work on a display accessory for tethered use with an iPhone, which was originally supposed to see production in 2026 in Q2. The accessory was expected to use Birdbath optics for its display technology, but due to competition and internal challenges, this project is on hold.
Apple’s Roadmap Suggests the Company Is Prioritizing a Long-Term Strategy
From the insights presented by expert Kuo, it appears that Apple only has one pair of its head-mounted devices set for release until 2027. The duplicated Vision Pro with an M5 chip won’t require too much innovation or research to bring out, making it a quick addition to the headset category. It can give the company time to find its bearings and design a product that brings something advanced to the market to compete with the products that are likely to have crowded the space by the time its products are set for their 2027-28 release.
Is this the best strategy for Apple? With a lengthy timeline such as this one, Apple runs the risk of falling too far behind its competitors, especially if others can move to second and third-gen devices before Apple is able to gauge the reaction to its first one. Many believe Apple will be unable to catch up to its competitors in most of the smart wearables segment.
At the same time, the 7 new Apple headsets arriving by 2028 could give the company sufficient range to ensure that all of its potential customer bases are well-catered to. The comprehensive commitment to the smart wearable headsets and glasses suggests Apple is confident the category will continue to grow later down the line, and it will be able to find its place in the market regardless of competition. All we can do is wait to see how Apple’s ambitions in the area pan out.
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