Impartial tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo experiences that Apple’s XR and sensible glasses roadmap will characteristic a number of XR units, together with a spec-bumped Imaginative and prescient Professional slated to launch later this yr. On the far finish of the spectrum, Kuo additionally says Apple is making AR glasses, reportedly coming in 2028.
Kuo is a long-time tech analyst and revered determine in Apple product leaks. In a brand new blogpost, Kuo has laid out a timeline for various Apple XR releases, ostensibly primarily based on numerous provide chain leaks.
Kuo experiences {that a} new Imaginative and prescient Professional that includes the corporate’s M5 chip is scheduled for mass manufacturing in Q3 2025, with 150,000–200,000 items anticipated to ship. This subsequent Imaginative and prescient Professional is reportedly upgrading the chip from M2 to M5, however will in any other case retain the unique specs.
Kuo maintains the iterative strategy is predicated on Imaginative and prescient Professional’s present place as a distinct segment product, as the corporate hopes to make use of the subsequent model to keep up market presence, cut back part inventory, and additional refine XR purposes.
Subsequent, Kuo says Apple is getting ready a a lot lighter headset, reportedly known as ‘Imaginative and prescient Air’, set to launch in Q3 2027. Imaginative and prescient Air is alleged to be dramatically lighter at over 40% lower than the present Imaginative and prescient Professional, which weighs in at 21.2–22.9 ounces (600–650 g), excluding the battery.
Kuo maintains Imaginative and prescient Air will embody plastic lenses, magnesium alloys, fewer sensors, a top-tier iPhone chip, and be priced considerably decrease to enchantment to broader customers.
The true next-gen Imaginative and prescient system is alleged to be ‘Imaginative and prescient Professional 2’ although, which Kuo says might arrive in 2H 2028, replete with a full redesign, Mac-grade chip, decreased weight, and a cheaper price, signaling Apple’s shift to maneuver away from area of interest XR merchandise and transfer towards mainstream adoption.
In the meantime, Kuo says Apple is investing closely in sensible glasses.
A Ray-Ban-like, audio-first wearable is anticipated to reach in Q2 2027, Kuo says, noting that the corporate is hoping to fabricate 3–5 million items—ostensibly a major push in direction of making its first sensible glasses a mainstream success.
Like Ray-Ban Meta, and the lately unveiled Oakley Meta HSTN, Apple’s sensible glasses are mentioned to haven’t any show, quite providing audio playback, photograph and video seize, an AI assistant, and each gesture and voice controls.
Arguably the most important declare amongst Kuo’s timeline is the point out of Apple XR Glasses, which the analyst maintains will embody a colour show (LCoS + waveguide) and AI options, making it the primary true AR glasses from the corporate. Kuo says Apple is focusing on launch in 2H 2028, with a lighter variant being developed in parallel.
This follows experiences of Apple doubtlessly scraping a extra informal XR glasses-type viewer, which might be tethered to Apple units and use birdbath optics. The system was initially deliberate for launch in Q2 2026, however Kuo maintains it was paused in late 2024 as a result of inadequate differentiation, particularly round weight.
Granted, Apple is likely one of the most opaque black bins in tech for a purpose. The corporate traditionally broadcasts merchandise on stage, which usually additionally comes with a worth and launch date connected. Whereas Kuo has a reasonably dependable monitor document of reporting insider information of Imaginative and prescient Professional, we’re taking this knowledge dump with an equally-sized grain of salt.
