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Apple is reportedly developing two new iterations of its Vision Pro headset, signaling a continued commitment to the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) market despite initial lukewarm reception. According to a recent report, the tech giant is working on a more lightweight and affordable version of the Vision Pro, alongside another model engineered for seamless integration with Mac computers. This move underscores Apple’s ambition to broaden the mainstream appeal of its spatial computing devices.
Affordable and Mac-Focused Vision Pro Models in Development
The forthcoming, budget-conscious Vision Pro is anticipated to feature a less powerful processor and streamlined functionalities to achieve a considerably lower price point than the original $3,500 device. The report suggests this affordable AR/VR headset will also incorporate an ultra-low latency system designed for efficient Mac display mirroring.
Apple’s Smart Glasses Ambitions
In addition to advancements in the Vision Pro line, Apple is still actively pursuing the development of its own smart glasses. These wearable devices are expected to be equipped with cameras and microphones, placing them in direct competition with offerings like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.
CEO Cook’s Focus on Augmented Reality
Apple CEO Tim Cook is purportedly deeply invested in realizing a compelling pair of AR glasses, considering it a “paramount objective,” according to sources cited in the report. While the vision of truly wearable and comfortable augmented reality eyewear remains a long-term goal, Apple views camera and microphone-enabled glasses as a crucial intermediate step in this technological evolution.
This strategic direction aligns with previous indications that Apple intends to leverage substantial research and development investments in visual intelligence, initially allocated to the Vision Pro, to propel future product categories, notably smart glasses expected around 2027.
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When contacted for comment, Apple offered no immediate response.
Competitive Landscape in Wearable Technology
Apple’s recent product strategy often involves refining and enhancing trending technologies, ranging from mixed-reality headsets to artificial intelligence capabilities. Currently, Meta appears to hold a stronger position in the smart glasses sector, driven by continuous improvements to its hardware, software, and expanding ecosystem of services. However, reports indicate that Cook is determined to establish Apple as the industry frontrunner in this domain, even ahead of Meta.
The envisioned smart glasses are expected to integrate Siri and Visual Intelligence as integral components of Apple’s broader Apple Intelligence AI platform. Consistent with Apple’s overarching product philosophy, user privacy is projected to remain a core principle in the design and functionality of these devices.
Nonetheless, Apple may encounter hurdles in making these wearable smart glasses as indispensable as its flagship products, particularly the iPhone, and in offering them at a price point that fosters widespread consumer adoption.
Long-Term Vision for Smart Glasses
Eric Abbruzzese, Research Director at ABI Research, characterizes Apple’s interest in smart glasses as a strategic, long-term priority.
“Augmented Reality has proven to be a more complex market entry than Virtual Reality in terms of achieving a balance between device cost and functionality,” Abbruzzese stated. He further elaborated, “AR as a complementary device to the smartphone, akin to the Apple Watch, represents a highly compelling product category that is only beginning to be adequately addressed.”
Abbruzzese suggests that the popularity of glasses like Meta’s Ray-Bans demonstrates consumer interest in smart eyewear. However, he acknowledges that developing smart glasses with integrated displays presents significant technical challenges. He also noted the growing synergy between AR and AI, with major tech companies like Apple, Meta, and Google developing products that fuse these technologies.
Abbruzzese described the “ideal” product as mass-market smart glasses – an affordable, display-enabled wearable device that seamlessly pairs with a smartphone and utilizes sensors, voice commands, and AI assistants for intuitive, hands-free user interaction.
“The relationship between AR and AI is significantly symbiotic, with each technology amplifying the benefits of the other,” he concluded.