It does not look like Apple will soon release a pair of augmented reality glasses. Prolific analyst Mark Gurman reported that Apple had cancelled its AR glasses project development following some unimpressive demos for executives. With Vision Pro struggling to build its sales momentum, on the surface AR glasses seemed like the best path forward for Vision products. But sadly, this is not the case.
Gurman says the glasses were supposed to resemble regular eyewear but include built-in projectors to display information, images, and videos in the user’s field of view. Apple even reportedly experimented with lenses that could change tint depending on the user’s actions, adding an extra layer of interactivity.
Apple risks falling behind Meta, which already offers its Ray-Ban smart glasses and is developing a version incorporating augmented reality. Sources told Bloomberg that the decision to end the project—dubbed N107—came after an attempt to reconfigure its design. At first, Apple wanted the glasses to pair with the iPhone but hit a roadblock over how much processing power the smartphone could offer. Instead, Apple looked to its computers, which had faster processors and larger batteries. Now, they won’t pair with anything.
Apple risks losing ground to Meta, which already sells its Ray-Ban smart glasses and is working on a version that includes augmented reality
Michael Kozlowski has been writing about audiobooks and e-readers for the past twelve years. His articles have been picked up by major and local news sources and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.