Apple's Augmented Reality Glasses Again Rumored for 2021 Launch

Apple's rumored augmented reality glasses will launch in 2021, with "small-volume" production expected to start in the first half of the year, according to paywalled information shared by DigiTimes.

Apple Glass

Apple to roll out AR glasses in 2021

Apple is expected to roll out its augmented reality glasses in 2021, according to sources at related suppliers, which are gearing up to kick off small-volume production for the device in the first half of the year.

The full report will not be published until tomorrow and the brief excerpt offers no further information, but it comes on the heels of an extensive report earlier this week from Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser detailing what he has heard about the glasses.

Prosser says the glasses will be called "Apple Glass" and start at $499, with prescription lenses available for an additional cost. In line with previous rumors, he says Apple Glass will rely on a paired iPhone for most of its functionality, allowing the glasses themselves to be as slim and light as possible.

According to Prosser's sources, Apple's original plans involved unveiling Apple Glass at the annual ‌iPhone‌ event in September or October, but restrictions on in-person gatherings could push the debut back to a March 2021 event. Either way, Apple was said to be targeting a late 2021 or early 2022 launch, which lines up with today's report from DigiTimes.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

Popular Stories

apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Coming to These U.S. States Next

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:41 pm PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Below, we outline which U.S. states offer the feature, and additional states that have committed to rolling it out in the feature in...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Mass Production Timeframe Revealed as Launch Gets Closer

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:38 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE in December, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a blog post. The fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14, with rumored features including a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a newer A-series chip, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, 8GB of RAM...
m3 mbp space black

What to Expect From Apple's 'Exciting Week of Announcements'

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:36 am PDT by
Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak today teased that the company has an "exciting week of announcements" planned next week. Joswiak said to "Mac" your calendars, and the post includes an animated icon for the Finder app on the Mac, so it is clear that at least some of next week's announcements will be related to the Mac. Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for more videos! Below, we have...
apple oct 2024 mac tease

Apple Teases M4 Mac Announcements Next Week

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:19 am PDT by
Apple's Greg Joswiak today made it clear that Apple plans to reveal new products next week, teasing refreshed Macs. In a social media post, Joswiak said to "Mac your calendars" because there's an exciting week of announcements that start on Monday morning. With Joswiak's announcement, it appears that there will not be a dedicated October event for Macs this year, with Apple instead...
apple watch 10 halloween

Apple Watch Series 10 Drops to New Record Low Prices on Amazon

Thursday October 24, 2024 7:01 am PDT by
Amazon today has the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 for the new all-time low price of $366.28, down from $399.00. This sale is only available in the Rose Gold Aluminum model, and Amazon provides an expected delivery date of October 28 for most United States residences. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Here Are All the New Features Coming to macOS Sequoia Next Week

Friday October 25, 2024 7:45 am PDT by
On October 28, Apple is expected to release macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1, bringing to Macs the first Apple Intelligence features such as Writing Tools, new Siri features, Smart Replies, and more. In addition, macOS 15.1 adds a handful of welcome tweaks and improvements to existing Mac capabilities. Here's what we can expect from the first major update to macOS Sequoia later this month. Note that...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware Ahead of Hearing Aid Feature Launch

Thursday October 24, 2024 11:43 am PDT by
Apple today released a new firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2, with the software available for both the USB-C and Lightning models. The AirPods Pro 2 firmware has a build number of 7B19, up from the 7A305 firmware released in September. The new AirPods Pro 2 firmware comes just ahead of when Apple plans to launch Hearing Health features in iOS 18.1. Hearing Health includes a hearing test...
M4 Mac mini Silver Perspective

5 Reasons to Get Excited About the New Mac Mini

Wednesday October 23, 2024 6:55 am PDT by
Apple's Mac mini has long been a powerhouse in a compact form, offering impressive performance in a small package. With rumors swirling about a completely overhauled new model that is likely just days away from being announced, anticipation is building for what Apple has in store. From enhanced connectivity to major hardware upgrades, the upcoming Mac mini promises to bring significant...

Top Rated Comments

yaxomoxay Avatar
58 months ago
"Hey Siri, show everyone's names."
"Showing everyone naked."
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
58 months ago

What exactly will these glasses "augment"? I don't understand the selling point here at all.
Me neither, but seeing as how the product hasn't even been released yet, that's expected.

We're currently at the "Why would Apple release an MP3 player? Those are terrible and clunky" point of product speculation, but we lack the benefit of hindsight.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
krazzix Avatar
58 months ago
For anyone not able to understand how AR glasses are going to benefit you, these are some thing I (and others) came up with that would actually be useful for me:


* Having a recipe floating in front of you while cooking, leaving your hands free
* Having your grocery shopping list in front of you, leaving your hands free
* Navigation like you're in a video game
* Project a screen anywhere and watch a movie
* Project a screen anywhere and play a video game (with a controller probably)
* Project a screen anywhere and do cloud computing (Full MacOS experience) if you bring your mouse and keyboard
* Browse and listen to music (i.c.w. AirPods, doubt glasses will have speakers)
* Enhanced family board games, D&D, we've seen this stuff before with AR kit, but way more convenient and cool with glasses instead holding an iPad/iPhone
* Browsing the web anywhere, anytime, handsfree, no need to pull out your phone
* Reading books handsfree
* Decorate your house (or anything anywhere) digitally
* Automatic translation when someone speaks to you in another language
* Magnify/increase contrast/provide light for hard to read things
* Identify trees/flowers/animals etc.
* Glasses + Airtags. Getting on-screen markers for that thing you are looking for.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ultramove69 Avatar
58 months ago
I want this in a monocle
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AyeKay15 Avatar
58 months ago
Will this turn me into Samus Aran so I can fight the coronavirus?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yaxomoxay Avatar
58 months ago

What exactly will these glasses "augment"? I don't understand the selling point here at all.
Who knows. It certainly makes us closer into making some Black Mirror episodes a reality.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)