Apple Inc. has postponed the release of its AR/XR smart glasses that include an integrated display until 2029, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who cited the firms latest supply-chain checks. The delayed model is said to employ optical waveguide technology for its display, and had previously been expected to arrive earlier.
Kuo said Wednesday that Apples extended-reality product timeline looks substantially different from what it did a year ago. He indicated that only two smart-glasses projects are now visible within the companys development pipeline.
The analyst added that John Ternus, set to become Apples next chief executive, approved an extensive revision of the product line that removed the Vision Pro family from the roadmap. Kuo said this strategic shift occurred some time ago, and he noted that he was late in updating his public projections to reflect that change.
Separately, Kuos supply-chain checks show that Apples display-less AI glasses - devices he compared in form to Ray-Ban Meta - remain on track for shipment in 2027. He said the company is reallocating development and production resources toward smart glasses that it believes have greater potential to reach mass-market adoption.
Apple has not announced a date for the leadership transition. Kuo stated that Ternus will succeed Tim Cook as chief executive, but the company has not specified when that handover will occur.
On the market, Apple stock reacted to the report, falling roughly 2% amid the update on product timing and strategy.
Implications and context
According to Kuos supplier-focused view, Apple is consolidating its AR/XR efforts around two visible product tracks: a lower-complexity, display-less AI eyewear aimed at earlier shipment, and a more sophisticated, display-equipped device now targeted for a later launch. The use of optical waveguide technology is specifically noted for the display model.
What remains uncertain - The exact timing of Apples executive transition was not provided, and Kuo acknowledged the timing of the product-line shift was not reflected in his earlier forecasts until now.