Apple's Vision Air: Lighter, Cheaper Smart Glasses Set to Launch by 2026
April 28, 2025
Analysts express mixed views on Apple's market strategy, highlighting both the potential of the Vision Air and the challenges it faces in the competitive tech landscape.
Despite the disappointing sales of the first-generation Vision Pro, the lighter model is anticipated to arrive by the end of this year or the first half of 2026.
The Vision Air aims to address the weight and cost issues of its predecessor by potentially reducing hardware features, such as fewer camera sensors and lower display resolution.
A significant challenge for Apple will be establishing compelling use cases for the Vision Air, as consumers currently view the Vision Pro as more of a novelty than a necessity.
The Vision Air's launch could coincide with a significant update to the visionOS 3 software, potentially boosting its market presence.
Supply chain sources indicate that the Vision Air is set to debut in late 2025 or early 2026, with adjustments being made to component orders for its production.
Practical applications for the Vision Air are expected to include real-time navigation while driving, fitness tracking, and facilitating virtual meetings on the go.
The Vision Air may feature a redesigned interface, changing the connector style and reducing the pin count from 12 to 8, which could enhance its usability.
While technical specifications and pricing for the Vision Air have not been officially confirmed, Apple appears focused on creating a more accessible product without sacrificing brand quality.
Apple is developing a new pair of AI-powered smart glasses, codenamed Vision Air, in response to the mixed reception of its Vision Pro headset, which faced criticism for its high price and heavy design.
Apple's cautious approach to the Vision Air's development is driven by pricing pressures, the need for technological refinement, and evolving consumer expectations around privacy and utility.
This new model is expected to feature the new M5 chip, significantly enhancing processing power and improving external display capabilities.
Summary based on 63 sources
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Sources

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