Although sales of the Vision Pro have been disappointing, Apple doesn’t want to throw in the towel on the segment. The company seems convinced that its “spatial computing” platform will have an important place in the industry in the future. In line with this, the much-rumored cheaper Apple Vision product is expected to arrive next year. In addition, there are new key details about Apple’s first “smart glasses.”
No ETA for Apple Vision Pro 2; cheaper Vision product expected to arrive next year
A June report said that development of the Apple Vision 2 has been canceled or suspended indefinitely. Initially, the next-gen model was expected to arrive in 2026. Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that while the Apple Vision 2 is still in development, there is no set release date. So it could take quite a while to arrive.
The June report also said that Apple was now focused on releasing a cheaper Vision headset. The company wants a device that costs half as much to allow more people to access its “spatial computing” experience. After all, the Apple Vision Pro is a niche product due to its high price. There were also many complaints regarding ergonomics. Being a product that you will wear for many hours, comfort is a key aspect.
Gurman confirms the development of the cheaper Apple Vision product, saying that it is “probably coming as early as next year.” It is said that Apple wants to offer an experience as close as possible to that of the Vision Pro. So, they would use the same screens as the current expensive model. However, the company would cut costs in aspects such as camera units, smaller speakers, and headband manufacturing.
First “Apple Glass” product will not have a screen
Gurman also reveals an interesting aspect about Apple’s smart glasses. According to the report, the Cupertino giant would have postponed the idea of making true AR glasses. That is, the product will not have a screen, similar to the Meta Ray Ban. Apparently, there were many technical challenges in between that prevented the original idea. For reference, the Ray Ban Meta offers features like taking photos/videos and talking to an AI assistant.
An earlier report said Apple Glasses were targeted for 2027 at the earliest, but even internally that was seen as unlikely. In fact, Apple had yet to decide on the feasibility of the project. Now that the final product is said to be less ambitious, it may be possible to launch it in that year. However, the report does not include details on an ETA.
2024-08-12 15:05:21