Apple Explores Multiple Paths for Future Vision Pro Hardware, Including AR Glasses

Apple reconsidering Vision Pro strategy amid Meta's AR developments: Report

Introduced in June 2023, the Vision Pro headset marked Apple's entry into spatial computing. However, the company now recognizes the need to "rethink its approach to headsets," although the specifics remain uncertain. According to Gurman, Apple faces significant challenges with the Vision Pro. The company aims to develop a range of devices with different features and price points, exploring various future directions for its Vision product line. Meta's Orion prototype stood out at its event, showcasing a 70-degree field of view and advanced eye-and-hand control. While the device is not yet ready for consumers, Gurman estimates that it could be available in "three to five" years, positioning Meta ahead of Apple in the AR space. Gurman praised the Vision Pro's technology, particularly for video viewing, but noted that it is more of a showcase than a practical consumer product. Its limitations, including short wear time, limited third-party software, and a lack of compelling features, restrict its broader appeal. Additionally, the $3,500 price tag (before taxes and upgrades) places it out of reach for many consumers, and even a price reduction may not significantly drive sales. Apple is evaluating several paths forward for the Vision Pro, as outlined by Gurman: Status Quo Route: Keeping the Vision Pro largely the same while developing a cheaper version with lower-quality materials and technology. A second-generation Vision Pro with upgraded components is also a possibility. Smart Display Route: Removing the on-board computer and battery from the Vision Pro and shifting some functions to the iPhone. This would reduce costs and make the headset lighter. Smart Glasses Route: Developing smart glasses similar to Meta's collaboration with Ray-Ban. Apple would leverage its expertise in chips, audio, and AI to create a widely appealing product. AI and AirPods Route: Introducing a new version of AirPods Pro with external cameras and AI, providing a smart glasses-like experience without the need for frames. Holy Grail Route: Pursuing standalone AR glasses with integrated components, high-performance lenses, and eye tracking. This has been a long-term vision for CEO Tim Cook, but development has been paused due to technical challenges. Gurman emphasizes that Apple must accelerate its efforts in these areas to stay competitive. The company has faced setbacks in recent years, including struggles with its smart home strategy, the failure of its car project, and a late entry into AI. While Apple's financial strength, driven by the iPhone, allows for some missteps, its long-term success depends on leading the next wave of technological innovation before its competitors.

Apple considers changes to the Apple Vision Pro line

Facing competition from Meta's improving Quest headset line, Apple is having to think hard about the future of its own Vision hardware. The Apple Vision Pro is presented as a premium mixed-reality headset, but one entering an already occupied marketplace. With the prospect of Meta increasing its footing in the market, Apple has to take a long hard look at itself when it comes to head-mounted displays. Following the introduction of the improved Quest 3S headset at a price one tenth of the Apple Vision Pro, Apple is now rethinking its current course. In Sunday's newsletter from Bloomberg, the Apple Vision Products Group is now evaluating a few different course of action for the headset. The first and most obvious route is to maintain course, keeping the Vision Pro as a premium model while introducing a less-expensive edition. Made with cheaper materials, the value-based headset would still let Apple come out with a second-gen Pro model. This seems like the most likely proposition for Apple. Forecasts for the next model indicate few real changes aside from faster processing with Apple Intelligence, along with a lower-spec consumer-grade mode. Apple could also move towards making the headset more like a smart display. By removing the computer element and external battery, the headset will be lighter, cheaper to produce, and force the iPhone into handling processing duties. It could also go down the smart glasses route, developing something close to Meta's collaboration with Ray-Ban. Apple could go down the route of smart glasses but without the glasses element. With claims of AirPods Pro in development with external cameras and AI, this could offer many typical smart glasses applications for all users. The last "Holy Grail" option is to create AR glasses with all of the possible features. This would include high-performance lenses, battery, onboard computer, cameras, eye tracking, and other features within a pair of fairly standard glasses frames. The last option is apparently a dream for CEO Tim Cook. However, Apple previously decided to pause development on something similar simply because it was too hard to create at this time.

What's next for Apple's spatial computing journey? It might not involve headsets - 9to5Mac

Apple unveiled the first spatial computing product back at WWDC23 last June: Apple Vision Pro. It's been over a year since that unveil, and just over 6 months since they actually shipped the product. Meta recently unveiled their new Orion AR glasses, and while that's just a prototype, it does leave us wondering what Apple has in the pipeline for "spatial computing." According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple seems to be aware that they need to "rethink its approach to headsets", although they're undecided on how they need to do that. The company is looking at a few different options for the future of Apple Vision, according to his reporting. The first route, which is what Apple is likely to do, is to just build more headsets. First, they'd build a cheaper Apple Vision headset, perhaps called "Vision Air", with lower quality displays and cheaper materials. This is what we're expecting to launch next year, if plans don't change. They'd also follow up with a second generation of Apple Vision Pro, which is currently rumored to have an M5 chip and Apple Intelligence. They'd probably also include better displays as well, and hopefully focus on being lighter. Although this is the seemingly obvious approach, it might put Apple a little behind the curve, which is why the company is apparently considering other routes. According to Gurman, Apple is also considering removing the built in processing and external battery from Apple Vision Pro, and making a version of the headset that relies on your iPhone. This would reduce the weight of the headset, but seems like a weird decision. Sure, this would cut "several hundred dollars worth of components." But, is that worth it? I personally don't think many people would pay $2000 for what's ultimately an iPhone accessory, even if it meant you'd have an experience very similar to Apple Vision Pro. I'm also not sure how effective this would be, as the iPhone battery is quite small compared to Apple Vision Pro's. Even an iPhone 16 Pro Max is only around an 18Wh battery, half the size of Apple Vision Pro's 35.9Wh battery. And even the Vision Pro's battery only lasts two hours. Apple is apparently considering two options that don't exactly involve displays. One of the options is a product similar to Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses. The other is beefed up AirPods. Meta's Smart Glasses don't actually have any displays in the glasses. Instead, the headset has mics, cameras, and speakers. This allows you to ask Meta AI questions, easily capture pictures, and listen to music. Apparently, Apple is considering a product similar to this. Another option is AirPods with the same level of AI integration, just without a glasses frame. These AirPods would even have external cameras, apparently: Apple is working on a new version of the AirPods Pro that uses external cameras and artificial intelligence to understand the outside world and provide information to the user. Beefed up AirPods with cameras seem weird, but the glasses would be rather interesting. Apple, in their ideal world, would just create fully featured AR glasses, similar to what Meta unveiled earlier this week. The computer, displays, battery, and all other necessary components would all be built into a glasses frame, if everything went to plan. The company also hopes for their AR glasses to match the size and weight of regular glasses. Apple previously paused development of this project in favor of Vision Pro because it was "too big a challenge", but it might be back on the table now that Meta is around 3 years away from shipping a consumer version of their prototype Orion glasses. In my opinion, Meta Orion is very cool to see, even if it's just a prototype. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claims that the company will be able to ship a consumer version of this product in around three years, with thinner frames, brighter displays, and a consumer price tag. Right now, the bill of materials is over $10,000. I also hope that Apple will make a product like this in the near future. AR glasses have long been a dream Apple product, and Apple shouldn't let Meta have a multi year lead here. What do you think of the future of Apple Vision? Do you like what Meta presented with their prototype glasses? Let us know in the comments.

Apple's Journey To Release Its Smart Glasses Is Said To Have A Combination Of Advanced AirPods And AI Along The Way, But Launch Is Many Years Away

A pair of smartphone glasses was eventually going to be Apple's goal as it attempts to explore a nascent market by encouraging customers to pick up its expensive $3,499 headset. According to a previous estimation, these spectacles could launch in 2027, but before their arrival, the company is actually working on another product that the latest report believes will carve out a path for its upcoming wearable technology. That product happens to be a new pair of AirPods that are said to feature AI capabilities and camera modules. The Apple Vision Pro is just the tip of the iceberg that makes up the Cupertino giant's mixed-reality vision, with its end-game being the smart glasses. Unfortunately, Apple CEO Tim Cook has admitted that while the product is a key objective for the company, the technology is too elusive at this time. One of its biggest obstacles is running a chip that can deliver iPhone-level performance while consuming one-tenth of the power, which is currently impossible. However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has implied in his 'Power On' newsletter that a new pair of AirPods will aid in the development of the smart glasses. These wireless earbuds will reportedly feature cameras, delivering information about the outside world to the user. AI is expected to aid in this operation, with Apple Intelligence likely playing a pivotal role. TF International Securities Ming-Chi Kuo has also admitted that AirPods with camera modules will launch, but these will enter mass production in 2026 and are predicted to deliver an enhanced spatial audio experience. Based on this timeline, Apple's smart glasses are still years away, and there would be several potholes in the way that derail the company's progress, so does that mean that new competitors such as Meta will obtain an upper hand? Gurman does not believe so, as he states that Orion is just a prototype, and it could take 3-5 years before it turns into a product. Apple has never demonstrated product previews years in advance, which at least means that the company is not drawing customers into a false sense of hope about a product that has not even entered mass production. While Meta may have the upper hand in unveiling its future plans and warning its rivals, it remains to be seen who delivers a commercial product first, and that too with better utility.

Apple Vision Pro 2 -- all the rumors so far

Here's everything we know about Apple's next generation headset Apple Vision Pro 2 is going to be the company's second crack at spatial computing, and there is much to learn from the original Apple Vision Pro. From the "revolutionary" interface design it unlocked and insane amount of tech packed into its premium design, to the various annoyances such as the battery pack being in your pocket and that massive $3,500 price tag, the Cupertino crew have the assignment. So now that work has (reportedly) started on it, let's ask the obvious questions. What will it look like? What will power it? And when will it come out? Lucky for you, we've pulled together every scrap of information we know, and how it could stack up against the best VR headsets. There have been no leaks or rumors around a predicted price, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is claiming that since "other hardware specs and designs won't change much," that should "help lower costs and price points." A big part of me hopes that the Vision Pro 2 is the start of the Cupertino crew bringing that cost down to around the $2,000 mark at the most expensive -- especially in the face of how cheap you can pick up a Meta Quest 3. But this is purely me crossing my fingers and hoping for it. As for the release window, with mass production looking set to start next year, a launch in June 2026 is looking likely -- corroborating an earlier report from Mark Gurman. WWDC is when Apple launched the previous Vision Pro, and the company is pretty predictable when it comes to sticking to announcement cadences. So as hinted to above by Kuo's report, anything outside of what's powering the Apple Vision Pro 2 doesn't look set to change much. That means the same 4K microOLED display tech per eye, the same lenses, and that same premium construction with the EyeSight display up front. But based on our use of the current Vision Pro, that's no bad thing. In our Vision Pro review, Mark Spoonauer called it "easily the sleekest headset yet," and he talks about how the many cameras and sensors on board here (controlled by the R1 chip) lead to a "revolutionary" device to interact with. One thing we'd love for Apple to tackle with the next Vision Pro, though, is finding a way to integrate the battery into the headset itself -- rather than giving you a battery pack to put in your pocket. This setup often led to our arms getting tangled in the cord while we were using the device. Performance is where we look set to see the biggest improvements in Apple Vision Pro 2. One thing is clear: Apple Intelligence is going to be rolled out across all of the company's devices over the next couple of years. You may not hear the team saying that, but AI is the next big thing, and just imagine all the ways a multimodal AI would enrich experiences with the likes of the HomePod and Apple TV. But one significant target of this will be the next Vision Pro, as Kuo's report claims that the new headset will rock the next generation M5 chipset. Now, we don't need to talk about Apple's continuing gains in performance and power efficiency -- that much is a given. What will be most interesting here is how the size of that 16-core Neural Engine will be impacted. Apple is going to make Intelligence the big selling point of its next headset, so I'd anticipate a large increase to its NPU for the ability to house larger AI models on-device. Meanwhile, battery life is an interesting quirk of the at the very least, given the small capacity of the one Apple gives you (9440 mAh), you can easily squeeze more battery into this shell and lengthen that 2-hour longevity considerably. There's one rule I always follow when it comes to brand new Apple products, which has guided me well: always wait for the second generation. From the differences between iPhone and iPhone 3G, to the improvements made to the Apple Watch, you notice a lot of the quirks ironed out if you wait for the sophomore gadget. This may very much be the case with Apple Vision Pro 2 -- new, powerful internals, and a streamlined mass production around some hardware similarities to drive the cost down. But before we even get there, Apple has a big Meta Orion problem to combat.