The coming year will be a turning point for the Apple ecosystem. The company is expected to introduce more than 20 new products to users. However, among this massive product lineup, one stands out far more than the others in terms of CEO Tim Cook’s personal vision.

Apple Glasses and the technology of the future: What is Tim Cook aiming for?

The device, which has long been a hot topic in the technology world and is referred to as Apple Glasses (or possibly Apple Vision), is expected to be officially introduced towards the end of 2026. Just like with the Apple Watch and Vision Pro launches, the company plans to create excitement by announcing this new category months before its official release.

According to Bloomberg reports, the device may not be available on shelves until 2027. However, this delay does not diminish the importance of the project. On the contrary, these glasses will be the most critical step on the road to a true augmented reality (AR) experience, poised to be Tim Cook’s greatest legacy in Apple history.

Cook’s dream, unchanged for a decade, is quite clear: to design lightweight and stylish glasses that the user can comfortably wear all day. These glasses will seamlessly overlay digital data and visuals onto real-world images. Sources within the company indicate that Cook has made this project a top priority and is determined to create an industry-leading product before competitors like Meta.

The first model, expected next year, is not anticipated to offer a full-fledged AR experience. Instead, it is envisioned as a complementary accessory, much like the Apple Watch, focusing on Siri, AI, and iPhone integration. However, this first step will lay the foundation for the hardware upon which future models will be built.

With Vision Pro, Apple has already proven its software vision, which it calls “spatial computing.” While sales figures didn’t break records, the visionOS operating system garnered significant praise for its technical capabilities. The new glasses will give us the first glimpses of how this powerful software infrastructure will be combined with lighter and more practical hardware.

We don’t know yet when the technology for true AR glasses will be fully ready. But by the end of next year, we will have a much clearer picture of how Tim Cook’s great ambition will take shape.

Do you think smart glasses could replace smartphones in the future, or will they remain merely a helpful accessory? Share your thoughts with us.