Notable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has detailed his predicted roadmap for Apple’s headset and smart glasses devices, forecasting that the company has plans for seven head-worn devices in the works between 2025 to 2028.
According to Kuo’s blog post, Apple has viewed head-mounted devices as the next major trend in consumer electronics, and according to him, “[Apple] currently has at least seven projects in development, comprising three Vision series products and four smart glasses variants,” with five of the products having confirmed development timeline.
Here’s the list of devices which Kuo predicts will be released by Apple over the next three years:
Apple Vision Series Headsets
- Apple Vision Pro M5 Version:
Kuo claims that Apple is prepping an upgrade for the Apple Vision Pro soon, boasting its specifications from the current M2 chip to an M5 chip, although the system’s other hardware will remain unchanged. Mass production is predicted to begin in Q3 of 2025, with projected shipments of 150,000 to 200,000 units. - Apple Vision Air:
Rumoured to be in production by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Kuo says that the Apple Vision Air, a cheaper version of the Vision Pro, is expected to enter production in Q3 2027. The device is predicted to weigh 40% less than the original Vision Pro, using plastic and a magnesium alloy rather than glass and titanium alloy, and will be powered by “Apple’s latest flagship iPhone processor”. - 2nd-Generation Apple Vision Pro:
According to Kuo, the next iteration of the Apple Vision Pro will feature an entirely new design that is powered by a Mac-grade processor, with the device also being lighter and cheaper than its predecessor. Mass production for the device is projected for the second half of 2028.
Apple Smart Glasses
- “Ray-Ban-like” Apple Glasses:
Contrary to previous reports, which state a release window in 2026, Kuo claims that Apple’s competitor device to Ray-Ban’s Meta AI glasses is expected to launch in Q2 2027, with projected shipments of 3-5 million units. The device is claimed to feature multiple frames and materials options, voice control, gesture recognition, photo and video recording, as well as AI-powered environmental sensing. - Two XR smart glasses:
According to his report, Apple’s first Extended Reality (XR) glasses is scheduled for mass production in the second half of 2028, and will include a built-in display, AI functionality, voice control, and gesture recognition for its user interface.
Separately, another variant is also reportedly in development, although its features and release window are still unclear. - Display accessory:
Lastly, Kuo claims that work on an accessory enabling a tethered connection to display content from Apple devices to a headset has been paused since Q4 2024 due to “insufficient competitive advantage” surrounding its weight. The accessory, which was expected to use Birdbath optics for display technology, is now reportedly under review for “repositioning and specification refinement”.
Whether these rumoured devices will ever see the light of day still remains to be seen, but fans don’t have to wait too long to find out the validity of Kuo’s claims, considering the predicted Apple Vision Pro M5 Version is expected to be out sometime between July and September 2025.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
HSALS
Yonk
