Apple Shifts Focus to Smart Glasses, Shelves Lighter Vision Pro
Apple is reportedly accelerating development of its own smart glasses, aiming to compete with Meta's offerings. To redirect resources, the company has halted plans for a lighter, cheaper Apple Vision Pro headset. Apple's glasses, expected in 2027, will feature AI and voice interaction, while Meta recently launched its display-equipped Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Key points
- Apple has reportedly shelved plans for a lighter, cheaper version of its Vision Pro headset.
- The company is prioritizing and accelerating the development of its own smart glasses, expected to launch in 2027.
- Apple's upcoming smart glasses will focus on voice interaction and artificial intelligence, potentially featuring multiple styles.
- This shift redirects resources to compete with rivals like Meta, which recently announced its Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses starting at $799.
- Meta also launched its second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses and Oakley-branded sports glasses.
Apple is reportedly shifting its development focus from a more accessible version of its Vision Pro headset to its own line of smart glasses. Sources indicate that the company has halted work on a lighter, potentially cheaper Vision Pro variant, to instead accelerate its entry into the smart glasses market.
The decision appears to be driven by a desire to compete more directly with rivals like Meta. Apple is said to be working on at least two types of smart glasses, with a display-equipped version potentially aiming for an accelerated development timeline. These glasses are expected to heavily integrate voice interaction and artificial intelligence, similar to Meta's current offerings.
Meanwhile, Meta has recently showcased its latest smart glasses lineup at its Connect 2025 event. This includes the new Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which feature a heads-up display and are priced from $799, alongside updated Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley-branded models. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted these devices as a step towards a post-smartphone future, aiming to keep users more present in their surroundings. The competition in the augmented reality and smart device space continues to intensify as major tech companies invest in developing the next generation of wearable technology.
Sources
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