Apple might launch smart glasses in 2027

Apple’s Vision Pro headset is incredibly powerful, but also very expensive and quite bulky. The company is reportedly planning to launch a much lighter wearable device — though don’t expect it to arrive very soon.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s Vision Products Group is working on (at least) four new devices, including a second generation Vision Pro, and a cheaper variant that might arrive as early as this year.

We’ve already heard quite a lot about the rumored, more affordable Vision Pro variant, but Gurman claims that Apple is also working on a pair of smart glasses, similar to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. Very little is known about the product, but it should share some tech with the Vision Pro, namely the ability to scan its surroundings and supply useful data.

Apple is also reportedly working on a version of AirPods with cameras. As we’ve previously reported, the idea is for the earbuds to enable new spatial audio experiences, perhaps when combined with the Vision Pro. Both the smart glasses and the AirPods might arrive as early as 2027.

If the report is accurate, Apple might be speeding things up due to competition from Meta, which recently launched a cheaper version of its Quest headset, as well as demoed the powerful, yet lightweight Orion smart glasses. The company also keeps updating its Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which aren’t incredibly versatile but they have been on the market for a few years now. Put all of that together, and it does appear like Apple has its work cut out if it wants to catch up with Meta’s smart glasses/headset lineup.