While Apple’s AR ambitions have taken a quieter turn in 2024, the company has by no means shelved its plans for augmented reality wearables. Behind the scenes, Apple is still heavily invested in developing its much-rumored smart AR glasses, referred to in tech circles as Apple Glasses. According to Bloomberg’s trusted journalist Mark Gurman, the company is researching and prototyping augmented reality glasses with a potential release target of 2027. This information is also featured on 9to9trends YouTube, so don’t forget to check it out.
This timeline aligns with Apple’s long-term goal to create a seamless, immersive AR experience that complements its existing ecosystem. Tim Cook, a long-time advocate of AR technology, is reportedly urging Apple’s engineering and design teams to deliver an innovative product before Meta can fully dominate the wearable XR (Extended Reality) space. With the Vision Pro already on the market but struggling to reach everyday consumers, Apple now faces increased pressure to make its next move both impactful and accessible.
Meta’s Lead and Apple’s Response
The Apple Vision Pro, released as the company’s most advanced XR headset, has positioned Apple as a serious player in immersive computing. However, its $3,500 price tag, bulky form factor, and a still-developing app ecosystem have made it less appealing for mainstream users. On the other side of the market, Meta has rapidly gained ground through its Oculus product line, especially with the recent releases of Meta Quest 3 and 3S, which offer solid XR capabilities at a fraction of the Vision Pro’s price.
In addition to headsets, Meta has been innovating in the wearable tech category with projects like Orion, which aims to develop lightweight smart glasses for mass consumption. Their existing Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses already integrate Meta AI, allowing users to ask questions about objects they see in real time. These features are set to evolve even further, with possible future integration of more advanced AI like ChatGPT and real-time object recognition.
This level of progress from Meta appears to have triggered a strategic response from Apple. Early in 2025, leaks indicated that Apple was re-investigating not only smart glasses but also smart rings and additional wearables. While these initiatives had largely remained under wraps throughout 2024, Meta’s fast-paced innovation and expanding AI ecosystem seem to have reignited internal urgency at Apple.
Apple Glasses: A Different Approach from Vision Pro
While the Vision Pro is a standalone device with its own M-series chip, internal battery, and operating system, Apple’s upcoming AR glasses will follow a very different design philosophy. As reported by Ming-Chi Kuo, another reliable Apple analyst, the smart glasses are expected to tether directly to the iPhone, much like how Apple Watch initially relied on iPhone connectivity.
This design choice offers multiple benefits. First, by leveraging the iPhone’s processing power, battery, and operating system, the glasses themselves can be made lighter, more compact, and far more affordable. Second, it allows for a deeper integration with iOS, Siri, and Apple’s new AI platform—Apple Intelligence. This means users could look at a product, location, or sign through the glasses and receive instant contextual information through Siri, creating a seamless real-world digital interaction.
While companies like XREAL have already released tethered AR glasses that can stream Netflix and other content when paired with smartphones or PCs, Apple is likely to focus on ecosystem synergy and software polish, differentiating itself through tighter iOS integration, advanced voice control, and hardware optimization.
Target Price and Hardware Expectations
Another key advantage of tethered AR glasses is cost efficiency. Apple’s Vision Pro includes a powerful custom M2 chip and numerous sensors, which significantly drive up the price. In contrast, the upcoming smart glasses are expected to rely on iPhone tethering, eliminating the need for an expensive internal chip.
Ming-Chi Kuo has speculated that Apple’s next-generation Vision Pro may ship with an upgraded M5 chip, but the AR glasses themselves are unlikely to include such advanced processors. Instead, they will function more like an accessory, similar in spirit to AirPods or Apple Watch, which could enable Apple to price them at or below the $1,000 range, depending on features and materials used.
This would position Apple Glasses as a far more accessible product for average consumers, especially those already using iPhones. If successful, it could significantly expand Apple’s foothold in the XR market and attract buyers who found the Vision Pro too bulky or expensive.
Timeline: When Can We Expect Apple Glasses?
While the internal target for Apple Glasses appears to be 2027, this timeline could still shift depending on technological advancements, supply chain readiness, and market conditions. Building lightweight, fashionable AR glasses that meet Apple’s standards for battery life, display quality, and user experience is no small feat.
That said, the growing competition from Meta, Samsung, and other tech giants could prompt Apple to accelerate its development schedule if internal prototypes exceed expectations. Apple has a long history of entering markets late but redefining them upon arrival, similar to what happened with the iPhone and Apple Watch.
It’s also worth noting that the AR wearables market is still maturing. By aiming for a 2027 release, Apple ensures it has enough time to address key technical challenges like heat management, lens transparency, battery efficiency, and reliable hand/eye tracking—all while preparing a developer ecosystem that can deliver compelling AR apps on day one.
What This Means for the Future of Wearables
If the Apple Glasses do arrive within the next few years, they could fundamentally shift how consumers interact with the digital world. By merging real-time data with real-world environments, Apple would be entering the race for ambient computing, where information flows naturally through one’s surroundings instead of being locked behind a screen.
This move also aligns with Apple’s broader strategy to deepen its ecosystem and reduce reliance on physical screens. With AI enhancements, real-time object recognition, and integration with iOS services like Maps, Translate, and Health, AR glasses could become a critical component of Apple’s wearable future.
Furthermore, the success of Apple Glasses could open the door for new accessories, such as smart rings or gesture-based controllers, to enhance functionality without adding bulk. These combined technologies may eventually lead to a post-smartphone era, where smart glasses become a primary interface for digital interaction.
Final Thoughts
Apple’s smart glasses project is very much alive, with credible leaks and analyst reports indicating active development and a tentative launch window around 2027. By taking a tethered approach that utilizes the iPhone’s hardware, Apple aims to deliver a lighter, more affordable, and tightly integrated AR experience. With Meta pushing hard in the same space, Apple seems determined to respond—not just with a competitive product, but with a potentially transformative one. As always with Apple, timing and execution will be everything. But if the company gets it right, Apple Glasses could redefine how we see and interact with the world around us.
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Last update on 2025-05-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
