Apple just pulled the plug on its lighter Vision Pro to chase Meta in the smart glasses race. The Cupertino giant is fast-tracking two versions of AI-powered glasses - one launching in 2027, another with displays originally planned for 2028 - while reassigning Vision Pro engineers to the glasses project. It's a major strategic pivot that puts Apple years behind Meta's Ray-Ban partnership but signals where the company sees wearables heading.
Apple is making its biggest wearables bet yet, and it's not the one anyone expected. The company just hit the brakes on its long-rumored lighter Vision Pro headset to go all-in on smart glasses that could finally challenge Meta's surprising Ray-Ban success story.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is developing two distinct versions of smart glasses. The first is a display-free model that could be unveiled next year and hit shelves in 2027 - think Meta's current Ray-Ban partnership but with Apple's ecosystem integration. The second version includes displays and was originally slated for 2028, but Apple wants to "accelerate development" to get to market faster.
This isn't just product roadmap shuffling. Apple told staff it's pulling engineers from the Vision Pro refresh project to work on glasses instead. The move signals Apple recognizes what many in the industry have been whispering: the future of consumer AR isn't bulky headsets but lightweight, everyday wearables that people actually want to put on their faces.
The glasses will pack speakers, cameras, and multiple style options, "relying heavily on voice interaction and artificial intelligence," Bloomberg reports. Apple's also developing a custom chip specifically for the glasses, according to previous Bloomberg reporting, suggesting this isn't a side project but a full platform play.
But Apple's playing catch-up in a market Meta has been quietly dominating. The company's Ray-Ban partnership has evolved from a curiosity to a genuine hit, with the second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses offering significantly improved battery life and seamless social media integration. Meta's also expanding the lineup with Oakley-branded versions for athletes and the new Ray-Ban Display glasses, which "the best smart glasses" they've tried.
