Apple’s strategy in the augmented reality (AR) market is shifting. According to recent reports, the company has shifted the resources it allocated to the Vision Pro 2 to its smart glasses project following Meta’s rapid rise. As a result of this focus, the launch and release dates for the company’s first smart glasses have been revealed.

Apple Glasses are on the horizon

According to information in Mark Gurman’s “Power On” newsletter, Apple’s first smart glasses will be unveiled in 2026 and released in 2027. However, this initial version will not include an augmented reality (AR) display. The device’s functionality will be limited to answering phone calls, taking photos, and performing basic tasks without needing an iPhone.

This suggests that Apple is maintaining its long-term AR strategy but aiming for a simpler user experience to enter the market. The company’s second model with an AR display will not be released until 2028. This second-generation model will directly compete with Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses.

A significant development is taking place on the hardware front. Apple has already secured a large portion of TSMC’s 2nm manufacturing process. This process offers up to 10% higher performance and 20% more energy efficiency compared to the previous 3nm N3P process.

This will allow smart glasses to operate in a more compact form factor without overheating. Experts had stated that it would be impossible for such a device to offer “iPhone-level performance with very low power consumption” in 2023. However, Apple’s 2nm chip design could overcome these obstacles. While Apple hasn’t yet made an official announcement, it’s clear that the company will be making progress in the smart glasses market.