Apple’s Vision Air Project Put on Hold to Focus on Apple Glasses
Yesterday, Bloomberg indicated that Apple’s ‘Vision Air’ initiative is being halted to shift resources towards the high-priority Apple Glasses endeavor. This change in direction underscores Apple’s strategic approach as it strives to bolster its offerings in the augmented reality (AR) domain.
Apple Glasses Launch and Release Timeline
As per the report, Apple is anticipated to reveal the Apple Glasses next year, with a release scheduled for 2027. This method represents a departure from Apple’s usual product launch pattern, where new items are typically available for purchase soon after their announcement. Traditionally, Apple upholds a culture of confidentiality, often delaying announcements until a product is market-ready. Nevertheless, the Apple Glasses might adopt a less typical two-phase rollout approach.
Mark Gurman from Bloomberg pointed out that Apple plans to debut the new model as early as 2026, with a following launch set for 2027. This timeline implies a longer period between the introduction and the actual market availability of the product, a rarity for the company.
Apple’s Experience with Two-Phase Product Launches
The last time Apple used a staggered release approach was with the Apple Vision Pro, which was unveiled in June 2023 but did not ship until early 2024. Similar two-phase launches have also been observed with the original HomePod and the Apple Watch. Such strategies are often employed for entirely new product categories, giving developers extra time to create applications for new platforms. In some instances, it helps to alleviate concerns regarding Apple’s speed in specific technological areas.
While the plans for the Apple Glasses may still be subject to change, the current anticipation is that the product could debut at WWDC 2026, even if it doesn’t become accessible until 2027. The reasoning behind this two-phase release strategy remains a subject of speculation among industry analysts and consumers alike.
