Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known supply chain analyst, has shared his insights on Apple’s upcoming product plans regarding headsets and glasses over the next three years.
Kuo’s understanding of Apple’s strategies comes from over a decade of monitoring the company’s supply chain.
While many of his assertions have turned out to be partially true, it is crucial to recognize that some have also missed the mark.
### Upcoming Headset Developments
According to Kuo, Apple has exciting developments planned for its headset lineup.
**M5 Apple Vision Pro (2025)**
Kuo previously indicated that Apple intends to commence mass production of the updated Vision Pro headset featuring the M5 chipset in the latter half of 2025.
He emphasizes that most of the headset’s specifications will remain the same, aside from the chipset upgrade.
Currently, the Apple Vision Pro is equipped with an M2 chipset, and its launch was significantly delayed from the initial timeline set by Apple.
By the time it was finally released, Macs with the newer M3 chip had already made their debut, followed closely by the new iPad Pro featuring the M4 chip just three months later.
While the M5 chip has yet to be announced, Apple has claimed that the M4 boasts a CPU that is 50% more powerful and a GPU that is four times more powerful than the M2.
This suggests that the M5 Vision Pro could offer remarkable performance improvements.
Additionally, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has corroborated Kuo’s claims regarding the M5 Vision Pro, although Gurman has stated that Apple intends to go beyond a mere chip upgrade with plans for a lighter design and a more affordable price point.
Kuo does not specify the anticipated weight reduction or price decrease in his reporting.
**Apple Vision Air (2027)**
Kuo also suggests that Apple’s naming strategy for its initial headset, the Vision Pro, indicates a forthcoming line of more budget-friendly models.
Multiple sources, including Kuo, The Information, and Mark Gurman have indicated plans for a less expensive headset in the upcoming years, although there have been contradictions in their reports.
In his latest update, Kuo states that mass production for the Apple Vision Air will begin in the second half of 2027, a shift from his previous assertion that production would be delayed beyond 2027.
Kuo asserts that the Vision Air will be over 40% lighter than the existing Vision Pro and will come with a significantly lower price point.
This reduction in weight and cost is anticipated to be achieved through the use of an A-series chipset, which will also be integrated into the iPhone 19 Pro, fewer sensors, and materials like plastic instead of glass, as well as magnesium in place of aluminum.
These claims align with previous statements made by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who noted that a cheaper version of the headset was in the works using an A-series chip.
Gurman further speculated it might not include features such as the EyeSight lenticular display present in the Vision Pro.
**All-New Apple Vision Pro (2028)**
As for the future, Kuo indicates that Apple plans to introduce a groundbreaking next-generation Vision Pro headset by late 2028.
This all-new Vision Pro is expected to maintain the M-series chipset while showcasing a completely new design that promises to be significantly lighter and less expensive compared to today’s Vision Pro.
### Upcoming Glasses Offerings
In addition to headset developments, Kuo has provided insights into Apple’s plans for smart glasses.
**Smart Glasses (2027)**
For around eight months, Mark Gurman has expressed that Apple is developing smart glasses intended to compete directly with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
These smart glasses are expected to be packed with cameras, microphones, and speakers, with functionality encompassing phone calls, music playback, live translations, turn-by-turn directions, and multimodal AI functions, which Apple refers to as Visual Intelligence.
This will be powered by a new Apple-designed chipset, engineered based on the efficient S-series chips used in the Apple Watch.
Initially, Gurman mentioned a target release year of 2027 for the smart glasses but later suggested that Apple is accelerating its efforts with hopes of a late 2026 launch.
In contrast, Kuo’s recent report states that mass production of these smart glasses will not begin until mid-2027, presenting a contradiction to Gurman’s earlier updates.
Kuo estimates that Apple’s suppliers expect component shipments to support the production of around 3-5 million units in 2027.
For comparative context, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses had sold around 2 million units by February, with EssilorLuxottica, Ray-Ban’s parent company, aiming to ramp up its production capacity to 10 million units by the close of 2026.
**Display Glasses (Currently On Pause)**
Gurman previously reported that Apple had canceled plans for AR display glasses that were intended to be connected to a Mac.
The initial concept was for the glasses to be powered by an iPhone, but the limitations in processing power and the inability to maintain optimal battery life led Apple to explore alternatives, including a connection to a Mac.
However, the performance fell short during reviews with Apple executives, ultimately resulting in the project being shelved.
Kuo has mentioned these display glasses in his recent report, describing them as
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