The drop at a glance
| Release date | August 22, 2026 |
| Retail price | $145 |
| Style code | IV6750-001 |
| Colorway | Black laser-etched upper / Summit White / University Red |
| Where | Nike.com + Foot Locker, Finish Line, Hibbett |
The story
Laser etching is one of Nike's great 2000s innovations — designer Mark Smith's technique of burning intricate art directly into leather, which debuted on the 2003 Laser Pack and turned sneakers into engraved canvases. The 2026 'Laser' program brings that craft back across the Jordan line.
The AJ1 Low OG version covers a black upper in detailed etched graphics, grounded by a Summit White midsole and University Red outsole. It releases the same day as its big brother, the AJ3 'Laser,' making August 22 the etched-storytelling date of the year.
AJ1 Lows are volume shoes, so resale should stay near retail — but as the affordable companion to a grail-tier AJ3, the $145 Low is the accessible entry into the Laser story.
The deep cuts
- Mark Smith unveiled the Nike Laser Project at NYC's 255 Elizabeth Street Gallery in 2003, applying tattoo-art-inspired engraving to the Air Force 1.
- Laser etching hit the Jordan line in 2005 — the AJ20's midfoot strap carried roughly 200 engraved icons from MJ's life.
- The laser motif last touched the AJ1 in 2015, when a 'Laser' Retro High OG marked the model's 30th anniversary.
How to cop
- Launch draw — enter the minute it opens; the raffle button above takes you there.
- Retailer raffles — the big accounts open entries in the days before the drop.
- Miss it? The buy links on this page route to the marketplaces we trust.
Dates move — the Drop Report updates as brands confirm. Answer this drop's culture question in The Feed to build your Culture IQ.
