Apple likely to launch AR glasses by 2026-27; iPhone SE4 not part of product plan

Apple is rumoured to be preparing the release of its augmented reality (AR) ‘Apple Glass’ by 2026 or 2027, at the latest, pending the successful development of sophisticated Metalens technology in the intervening years.

Apple is developing Metalens technology to replace plastic lens covers in a variety of products, beginning with the iPad and iPhone, as per Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Metalens is a flat lens technique that focuses light using metaspheres. It can benefit from flat surfaces and reduced thickness in optical applications when compared to typical, curved refractive lenses.

Furthermore, Kuo stated that the metal coverings will go into mass production for use in Apple’s Face ID system for the iPad Pro in 2024, followed by the iPhone in 2025 or 2026.

If the research goes as planned, it will eventually be employed in Apple’s AR Glasses, which will go into production in 2026 or 2027 at the earliest.

Furthermore, Kuo predicted in the research that Metalens coverings would eventually replace the “lowest-end” plastic lenses used in cameras.

This could happen between 2028 and 2030, assuming ongoing linear improvement in manufacturing and software algorithm development.

Meanwhile, Apple is said to be excluding the iPhone SE 4 from its 2024/2025 release roadmap.

Kuo stated on Twitter, “I think the SE 4 is currently not part of Apple’s new product plan for 2024/2025.”