Apple Halts Development of AR Glass Project Amid Technical Challenges
According to a recent report by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple has decided to discontinue its ambitious initiative involving a pair of Augmented Reality glasses designed to seamlessly integrate with its existing devices.
This revelation offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the product strategy at Apple. Despite the buzz surrounding these AR glasses for some time, they have never been formally introduced by the company.
The Shift from Vision Pro
Internally, these glasses were believed to be a logical advancement beyond the Vision Pro headset. However, while Vision Pro was envisioned as cutting-edge technology, it’s constrained by both its steep price tag of $3,500 and physical heaviness. Even in comparison with other VR headsets, it is notably unwieldy due to the necessary dependence on an external battery pack.
A New Approach for AR Glasses
The concept involved creating lightweight eyewear that would allow users to interact with their real-world surroundings while simultaneously displaying digital visuals through integrated screens. Codenamed N107, Apple aimed for these glasses to be more affordable and user-friendly by connecting them directly to an iPhone that would handle most of the data processing tasks.
Technical Limitations Lead to Setbacks
However, it seems this approach encountered significant obstacles. The processing limitations of iPhones hindered performance significantly when used in conjunction with the AR glasses and caused rapid battery depletion issues. Subsequently, Apple explored an alternative solution by shifting connectivity from iPhones to Mac computers equipped with more powerful processors and larger batteries.
User Experience Concerns
Recent prototypes reportedly did not meet expectations within internal reviews. Given that wearing a Vision Pro tethered via corded connection already poses challenges in mobility due to its bulkiness paired with an external battery pack in one’s pocket, envisioning users being connected permanently via their MacBooks seemed impractical. What’s needed is increased portability rather than further restrictions.
The Future of Apple’s AR Exploration
Gurman shared insights indicating that while the Vision Products Group continues developing a successor model for the Vision Pro—potentially updated iterations resembling its predecessor—clarity regarding any active “AR Glasses” project remains elusive within Apple itself. Earlier reports highlight the cancellation of another project codenamed N421 which was intended as a follow-up item expected just one year post-Vision Pro’s unveiling. Nevertheless, work on several core technologies initially intended for use within those glasses continues among teams at Apple.