Apple is said to have significantly reduced its Vision timeline for smart glasses, making Meta's leadership even more crucial.

      A year ago, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a Vision product roadmap that included seven devices. Now, he has shared a revised version with only two products left.

      Kuo claims that this alteration in the product roadmap has received approval from John Ternus, Apple's soon-to-be CEO, who will officially take charge on September 1, 2026.

      What has Apple eliminated and what remains?

      Zeke Jones / Digital Trends

      According to Kuo’s updated analysis (via X), only two out of the seven original products are still in development, while five have been cancelled.

      Of the two remaining products, one is a set of AI smart glasses that will compete directly with the Meta Ray-Ban series, and the other is a display-equipped pair of AR glasses that utilize optical waveguides to overlay virtual content onto the real world.

      The AI glasses are anticipated in 2027, while the AR glasses are not expected until 2029 at the earliest. All other plans, including a successor to the Vision Pro and the lighter Vision Air, have been scrapped.

      Kuo elaborates that Apple’s strategy focuses on “smart glasses with greater mass-market potential,” a sentiment I completely agree with, though the timing may not be ideal.

      Why are smart glasses considered a better option than mixed reality headsets?

      Ray-Ban Meta (front) and Solos AirGo 3 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      As per a report from Counterpoint Research released in February 2026, global shipments of smart glasses surged 139% year-over-year in the latter half of 2025.

      Meta, the company behind the world's leading AI smart glasses, is dominating the market with its strong product lineup (which includes the Meta Ray-Ban Display) and steady introduction of AI-powered features.

      During the same timeframe, Meta captured 82% of the market share, thanks to its global reach, solid partnerships with well-known eyewear brands, and hardware supported by user-friendly software features.

      The company has successfully showcased the market's potential, which is only expected to expand in the coming years. It is evident that Apple aims to enter this market, but Meta's significant head start and experience might pose challenges for the Cupertino company.

      Is Apple running out of time in the smart glasses competition?

      Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      Every month Apple spends reshuffling its roadmap is a month that Meta spends selling, improving, and establishing the retail framework that normalizes the use of smart glasses.

      Adding to the concern is that Apple’s smart glasses may not be delivered until late 2027, granting Meta at least another year and a half to develop new products, enhance its features, and further entrench its market position.

      Apple seems to believe it can enter the market late and still succeed based on brand reputation, design, and seamless integration with the iPhone, mirroring the strategy that allowed it to gain an advantage over smartwatch competitors in 2015. However, this means that Apple’s first AI glasses must be at least as good, if not better, than what Meta will have on the market by then.

      In my view, the Vision Pro was more of a strategic platform initiative than a consumer product, and Ternus’ choice to cancel its successor reflects the acknowledgment that this strategy did not yield results at the pace Apple aspired to. The crucial question is not whether rechanneling resources to smart glasses is a sound decision, but whether Apple is already too late to the game.