In a weblog submit right this moment, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo detailed his up to date roadmap forecast for Apple’s headset and good glasses markets. In line with him, the corporate has at the very least seven head-worn units in growth throughout two product households, one coming in 2025.
In line with Kuo:
Apple views head-mounted units as the following main development in shopper electronics. The corporate at the moment has at the very least seven initiatives in growth, comprising three Imaginative and prescient collection merchandise and 4 good glasses variants. 5 of those merchandise have confirmed growth timelines, whereas two stay TBD.
Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional: spec bump in 2025, Imaginative and prescient Air in 2027, 2nd-gen Imaginative and prescient Professional in 2028
- M5 Imaginative and prescient Professional: Kuo believes that Apple is prepping an up to date M5 Imaginative and prescient Professional model, which is slated to enter mass manufacturing throughout Q3 2025. He mentioned different specs will stay unchanged, and estimates shipments between 150,000-200,000 till the top of 2025.
- Apple Imaginative and prescient Air: As for the rumored Imaginative and prescient Air, Kuo says that the cheaper sibling of the unique Imaginative and prescient Professional is predicted to enter mass manufacturing in Q3 2027. He says it’ll weigh 40% lower than the unique Imaginative and prescient Professional and use plastic and a magnesium alloy slightly than glass and the present titanium alloy. Lastly, it’ll characteristic a “highest-end” iPhone processor and fewer sensors.
- 2nd-gen Imaginative and prescient Professional: Kuo claims {that a} second-generation Imaginative and prescient Professional will characteristic a brand new design, a “Mac-class” processor, and can enter mass manufacturing in 2H-2028. He claims that it’s going to even be cheaper and considerably lighter than the unique model.
Apple Glasses: no sooner than 2027, two XR glasses underway, ‘show accent’ on pause
- 1st-Gen Apple Glasses: Opposite to latest studies that pegged 2026 because the potential debut 12 months, Kuo says that Apple’s first crack at a Meta Ray Ban’s good glasses competitor is predicted to enter mass manufacturing within the second quarter of 2027, with an estimated 3–5 million items shipped.
Kuo additionally says there can be a number of frames and supplies choices. Key options will embody voice management, gesture recognition, photograph and video recording, AI-powered environmental sensing, and audio (unclear if built-in or AirPods-dependent).
- Two XR good glasses underway: In line with the report, Apple’s first pair of glasses with a built-in show is predicted to enter mass manufacturing in 2028, and also will characteristic gesture and voice management. The show will use Liquid Crystal on Silicon and waveguide expertise.|
Kuo additionally notes that Apple is creating a second display-equipped mannequin, although particulars on its options and launch timeline stay unclear.
- Show accent: Kuo says that work on a cable-bound accent for the Mac and even the iPhone has been paused as a consequence of weight challenges, however nonetheless might be resumed at a later date. The product was anticipated to make use of Birdbath optics for show expertise, and was slated to start mass manufacturing in Q2 2026.
Whether or not by design or out of necessity, Apple is taking part in the lengthy recreation
One attention-grabbing takeaway from Kuo’s report is that he doesn’t simply anticipate Apple to attract consideration to the good glasses market, growing its potential market measurement.
He additionally believes the corporate may leapfrog the competitors with superior expertise, even when its first product arrives years after others have entered what’s more likely to change into a crowded house:
“Apple’s entry is predicted to push complete market shipments for this class past 10 million items in 2027, marking a major rising development.“
And
“Earlier than Apple launches display-enabled good glasses, a number of manufacturers are anticipated to launch comparable merchandise to determine early market presence. Nonetheless, given the continued technological and design enhancements wanted, these merchandise will seemingly stay area of interest choices over the following two years.”
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