Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,104
40,131


Apple still plans to launch augmented reality "Apple Glasses" by 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, provided it can finalize new metalens technology in the interim, according to Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple-Glasses-Blue-Feature.jpg

In his latest summary of surveys and predictions, Kuo says Apple is developing metalens technology to replace plastic lens covers in a range of devices, starting with iPads and iPhones.

Metalenses are a flat lens technology that use metasurfaces to focus light. In optical applications, they can take advantage of the flat surface and reduced thickness, compared to traditional, curved refractive lenses.

According to Kuo, metalens covers are set to enter mass production in 2024 for use in Apple's Face ID system for iPad Pro, then iPhone in 2025 or 2026. If development goes as planned, they would eventually be used in Apple's AR glasses, which will enter production in 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, says the analyst.

Looking further ahead, Kuo predicts that metalens covers could replace "lowest-end" plastic lenses in existing cameras between 2028 and 2030, assuming continuing linear progress in manufacturing and software algorithm development.

"Investors should be aware that over the next few years, metalens will gradually replace existing plastic lenses in 3D sensing applications," says the analyst, adding: "Glasses-type head-mounted display devices are the killer application for metalens."

This is the first time in a long while that Kuo has ventured to offer a launch timeframe for Apple Glasses. In March 2021, the analyst suggested Apple planned to release augmented reality glasses by 2025. That prediction was made in the context of a report about Apple potentially developing AR "contact lenses."

Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Apple paused development on the augmented reality Apple Glasses that it planned to introduce after its mixed reality headset.

According to Bloomberg, some Apple employees do not believe that Apple will ever ship AR glasses, since most of Apple's AR/VR group is working on mixed reality headsets, the first of which is expected to debut as soon as this June at WWDC.

Article Link: Kuo: Apple Glasses to Launch in 2026 or 2027 at the Earliest
 
I read only today that metalenses have been demonstrated in lab based environments that can work with the entire visible spectrum of light without having to use layers of lenses. A single-layer metalens capable of operating in the white light spectrum has so many uses. AR glasses would indeed be useful. But forget AR for a moment. Think about really thin lenses that could be offered to people with a strong prescription. Lenses that can adapt dynamically for different lighting conditions, to provide zoom, to correct both long and short sight in a single thin lens. Amazing tech.
 
I know this is a rumour site, but maybe we should just stop talking about these as every piece of "news" is contradicting each other.

Maybe read the article. This article is about Apple glasses not about the Apple Mixed reality headset which is still set to be introduced at this years WDCC.
 
Not sure why they're playing it so unsafe.
They used to watch tech getting popular and almost completely mature and jump in with the most refined product, at a price that people would only accept from Apple, conquering the market.
Even Google seems to have learned the lesson about crazy experimental stuff that sucks R&D money.
 
Not like anyone really cares, but I'll go on record saying it's highly doubtful we'll be seeing such AR glasses on the market anytime before 2030
 
  • Like
Reactions: gusmula and Pezimak
Not sure why they're playing it so unsafe. They used to watch tech getting popular and almost completely mature and jump in with the most refined product, at a price that people would only accept from Apple, conquering the market.

iPod was not „playing it safe“. Those tiny HDs were brand new and the whole device was developed in record time.

iPhone was not „playing it safe“. The prototype during the unveiling was barely funtioning, and only as long as Jobs was following the steps the engineers told him to in just the right order. Also, the folks from Nokia famously refused to believe that it was even real, until they bought some on launch day.

iPad was not „playing it safe“. People were shocked how thin and light (and cheap!) it was.

None of those classes of devices were even close to „mature“ when Apple jumped in.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.