Inside the Future: Analyst Reveals M5 Vision Pro, Vision Air, and Smart Glasses Launching Between 2026-2028

Apple is gearing up to launch a new product called “Vision Air,” with production expected to kick off in the third quarter of 2027. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo notes that this device will be more than 40% lighter than the original Vision Pro. It will run on Apple’s top iPhone processor instead of the heavier Mac processor seen in the Vision Pro, all while being significantly cheaper. The weight reduction will come from using plastic instead of glass, along with a strong magnesium alloy, since titanium proved too costly.

The Vision Pro, along with its successor, aims to deliver an immersive virtual reality experience that blends augmented reality into daily life. It uses 3D cameras to capture the environment and display it on internal screens. However, this bulkiness makes it less practical for everyday wear.

Many people dream of smart glasses that resemble regular eyewear but can still deliver AR content through transparent lenses without the need for bulky cameras. According to Kuo, Apple plans to introduce a more discreet option. Mass production of these “Ray-Ban-like” glasses is set for the second quarter of 2027, with an estimated 3 to 5 million units expected to roll out through that year. This indicates Apple believes these glasses will have a greater impact than the Vision Pro’s VR-style approach.

These initial glasses will feature voice control and gesture recognition but won’t have a display. Instead, they will focus on functions like audio playback, camera use, video recording, and AI sensing of the surroundings. The actual AR glasses are slated for release in 2028.

Interestingly, recent statistics show that augmented reality is gaining traction. A 2023 survey by Statista revealed that 45% of consumers are interested in AR experiences in everyday life, which bodes well for Apple’s new offerings. This shift towards more user-friendly tech suggests that Apple is tapping into a growing market, responding to consumer demand for practicality and aesthetics.

For more insights into the evolution of augmented reality and smart glasses, you can check out the latest reports from the [Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org), which discuss future trends in technology and its impact on society.

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