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Apple has been working on AI smart glasses for a little while, both to compete against Meta Ray-Bans and to provide a hardware platform for Siri and its Visual Intelligence features. While they were originally set to be announced at the end of this year and debut early next year, that\u2019s now been delayed, with a launch now set to take place by the end of 2027, per Bloomberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n On the flip side of things, a cheaper and lighter version of Apple Vision Pro, dubbed Vision Air, may arrive as soon as 2028, potentially 2029.<\/p>\n Apple smart glasses face new delay<\/p>\n When we first heard about Apple\u2019s advanced efforts to release smart glasses around this time last year, the company was on track to announce a pair by the end of this year. Now, timelines have slipped slightly, and Apple will need an additional year, per Bloomberg\u2019s Mark Gurman<\/a>:<\/p>\n There have been some bumps on the road to Apple becoming an eyewear giant. It had initially planned to introduce its smart glasses, code-named N50, at\u00a0the end of 2026\u00a0and ship them by early 2027. But as is often the case with major new Apple products, there have been delays. The company is now working toward launching the glasses at the end of next year, I\u2019m told.<\/p>\n While Siri is still on track to debut before the end of this year, the larger development concern is Apple\u2019s visual AI technology might not be up to par by the end of this year. Apple doesn\u2019t want to risk launching an unappealing product.<\/p>\n These glasses are largely launching as a hardware platform for Apple Intelligence, though the products feature set will expand over time: <\/p>\n The first Apple glasses\u00a0will use design elements\u00a0to stand out, with oval-shaped cameras, unique colors and multiple frame styles. Over time, Apple believes the glasses could evolve into a health device and eventually incorporate augmented reality technologies capable of improving how people see.<\/p>\n Lastly, Apple believes it has a massive opportunity here in the eyewear space, and wants to potentially capture billions of people who depend on prescription glasses, casually wear sunglasses, or use glasses as a fashion accessory. So, it makes sense that the company wants to take additional time to nail down the product offering.<\/p>\n Vision Air could debut in 2028-2029<\/p>\n Despite earlier reporting that Vision Air development was essentially shelved<\/a> in favor of the AI glasses outlined above, it does sound like Apple is putting some resources into its development again. According to Mark Gurman, Apple\u2019s slimmer and lighter version of Vision Pro could debut in late 2028 or 2029:<\/p>\n Apple has also been working on a slimmer and lighter headset to succeed to the $3,499 Vision Pro, but I don\u2019t anticipate that to launch before late 2028 or 2029. Apple needs to fix the design and pricing problems that turned the first Vision Pro into a flop, and that category will essentially be on ice until then.<\/p>\n 2029 does sound far away, but it\u2019s also worth noting that Vision Pro originally debuted around 3 years ago at WWDC 2023, so really, we\u2019re about an equal amount of time away from Vision Air as we are from the original Vision Pro. I\u2019m not sure if that comparison is actually helpful or just makes everyone feel old, but nonetheless, 2029 isn\u2019t incredibly far \u2013 and there is still the optimist case of late 2028.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that Gurman refers to the category as \u2018on ice until then\u2019, so we probably shouldn\u2019t expect anything newer than the current-generation M5 Vision Pro until the Vision Air debuts in 2-3 years.<\/p>\n My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:<\/p>\n Follow Michael:\u00a0X\/Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t
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