Apple focusing on smart glasses, Vision Pro takes a backseat: Report

Apple has some serious plans for its wearable devices. But this time, the focus has reportedly shifted away from the premium Vision Pro headset line and towards smart glasses that could appeal to a much wider audience. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple has revised its AR (Augmented Reality)devices roadmap, with incoming CEO John Ternus approving a strategy that prioritises smart glasses over mixed-reality headsets.

In a post on X, Kuo revealed that only two smart glasses products now remain clearly visible in Apple's roadmap. One is a display-less AI glasses expected to enter mass production in 2027 and more advanced AR glasses with displays that have been pushed back to 2029. He added that the Vision Pro roadmap he shared in 2025 is no longer a useful reference because of the major changes Apple has made over the past year.

"I think removing the Vision Pro line was the right call, as Apple shifts resources toward smart glasses with greater mass-market potential," Kuo wrote. “Apple’s display-equipped AR/XR smart glasses device, powered by optical waveguides, has slipped to 2029. The display-less AI glasses, similar to Ray-Ban Meta, are still expected to ship in 2027.”

Kuo's report on Apple's shift in wearable strategy also aligns with recent reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has also suggested that Apple is increasingly betting on smart glasses as its next major hardware category. Gurman reported that Apple's AI-powered glasses are now targeted for late 2027 following development delays and that the company has shelved some Vision-related projects, including the Vision Air headset and display glasses designed to pair with a Mac.

While Kuo believes Apple is no longer actively pursuing any Vision Pro successor, Gurman has reported that a second-generation Vision Pro remains in testing, even though the category has effectively been put on hold. He has also said Apple continues to explore a lighter and cheaper Vision headset, though such a device is unlikely to arrive before 2028 or 2029.

The broader direction, however, appears consistent across both reports. Apple clearly sees smart glasses as a far bigger opportunity than expensive mixed-reality headsets. Kuo previously estimated that Ray-Ban Meta-style Apple smart glasses could ship between 3 million and 5 million units in 2027 alone, helping push the overall smart glasses market beyond 10 million annual shipments.

What will Apple smart glasses feature?

Apple's first-generation AI glasses are expected to focus on features such as cameras, audio playback, voice interaction, video recording and AI-powered environmental awareness rather than augmented reality displays. More advanced AR glasses using optical waveguides are expected to arrive later once the technology matures and costs come down.

With Ternus set to take over as Apple's CEO in September 2026 and multiple reports pointing in the same direction, the company's wearable future increasingly appears centred on smart glasses, while the long-term future of the Vision Pro line remains uncertain.