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Apple has decided to step back from plans for a lighter Vision Pro headset and is instead throwing its full weight behind smart glasses. Reputed media sources confirm that the company is working on two versions. One comes without a display, while the other has an integrated display. The display-less model could be unveiled next year with a launch expected in 2027, while the display version, initially planned for 2028, is now being fast-tracked.
Expected features include built-in speakers, cameras, AI integration, voice controls, and multiple frame designs. Apple is even developing a custom chip tailored specifically for this project, underscoring its serious commitment to this product category.
Apple is Behind in This Race
Meanwhile, Meta has already made significant headway in the smart glasses race. The company is rolling out new versions of its Ray-Ban Meta glasses, featuring a more extended battery life, Oakley-branded options designed for athletes, and Ray-Ban Display glasses with actual displays built into the lenses. These products have earned praise for their practicality, putting pressure on Apple to quickly catch up.
Apple has redirected engineering talent away from its “lighter Vision Pro” effort, effectively scaling back work on the headset to push the glasses forward. A modest Vision Pro refresh may still surface later this year, sources suggest the real focus is firmly on glasses. For readers who want more context, TechJuice’s earlier coverage of Apple Vision Pro helps set the stage for how this pivot changes the company’s wearable roadmap.
Future Prospects
This shift underscores Apple’s conviction that the future of wearables lies in discreet, always-on devices rather than bulky headsets. However, the road ahead is more challenging than expected. Apple will have to ensure that the glasses feel like a natural extension of the iPhone and Mac ecosystems, while also miniaturizing displays, cameras, and processors into a frame, which presents a massive engineering challenge. Then there’s the cultural hurdle, convincing people to wear tech on their face in everyday life.
All of this could redefine the wearable category altogether and push smart glasses from a niche experiment into mainstream reality. But that’s possible “if” Apple succeeds. Right now, the company is signaling that its boldest bet isn’t another headset, but a pair of glasses that could transform how we perceive technology itself.
