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On Tue, 11 Mar, 12:03 AM UTC
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Apple's future smart glasses could look like Meta's Ray-Bans
If you've been looking to buy a pair of smart glasses but have trouble choosing between Meta's Ray-Bans and Amazon's Echo Frames, Apple may be throwing its own pair into the mix. The Silicon Valley giant could be developing smart glasses that are similar to the former brand. Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman wrote in his latest PowerOn newsletter Apple's standalone smart glasses would be infused with AI, cameras, microphones and premium audio features -- much like the Ray-Ban smart glasses by the parent company of Instagram and WhatsApp. The glasses would also be lightweight and heavily integrated with the iPhone, allowing users to wear them all day. Recommended Videos However, according to Gurman, it would take three to five years for Apple to develop its own smart glasses and bring it to the wearables market. Even so, the company is exploring ways to make it a reality. Please enable Javascript to view this content Apple continuing its discussion of the development of its smart glasses comes amid the commercial failure of the Apple Vision Pro headset, with consumers citing its hefty $3,500 price tag, discomfort, and failure to live up to expectations of making waves in the AR/VR space. The company also tried developing AR glasses that would compete with the Ray-Ban smart glasses, but that got scrapped because the device failed evaluations, and the development team kept moving goalposts for it reach its full potential. If Apple does charge ahead in making the smart glasses that take on the appearance of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses complete with Apple accessories and cosmetics, we may not see them until 203o.
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Apple Still Exploring Smart Glasses Similar to Meta's Ray-Bans
Apple is still discussing the possibility of making smart glasses similar to Meta's popular Ray-Ban glasses, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that such a product wouldn't be a proper augmented reality device like Apple Vision Pro, but it would include AI, microphones, and cameras to create a "pretty good user experience." "If Apple can bring its design prowess, offer AirPods-level audio quality and tightly integrate the glasses with the iPhone, I think the company would have a smash hit," reckons Gurman. "It's mind-boggling that Apple hasn't gotten there yet." Apple initially wanted to create smart glasses that looked like regular glasses and had augmented reality capabilities, but Apple stopped development on the project earlier this year. Originally, Apple wanted the glasses to connect to the iPhone, but the iPhone didn't have the power or battery life to support them. Apple then transitioned to using the Mac as a power source, but Apple executives weren't convinced a Mac-connected device was a good solution, leading to the shutdown of the project. Gurman has previously reported that Apple is conducting user studies at its offices to gauge the appeal of features and interfaces, and that the company is working on a version of visionOS that will run on glasses. Codenamed "Atlas," the studies are being led by Apple's Product Systems Quality team, part of the hardware engineering division. Apple's rationale seems to be that creating smart glasses could provide a stepping stone to developing true AR glasses, aka Apple Glass. There have been rumors about Apple's work on AR glasses for almost 10 years now, and the Vision Pro headset is what Apple built because the technology doesn't yet exist for the kind of augmented reality glasses that Apple is aiming for. Meanwhile, Apple is still "actively developing" a product that would combine AirPods with cameras, according to Gurman. The cameras would help power AI features by gathering information on the surrounding environment, similar to the Visual Intelligence feature on supporting iPhone models.
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Apple is reportedly considering the development of smart glasses similar to Meta's Ray-Ban collaboration, potentially integrating AI, cameras, and premium audio features. This move comes amid challenges with their AR glasses project and Vision Pro headset.
Apple, the tech giant known for its innovative products, is reportedly exploring the development of smart glasses that could rival Meta's Ray-Ban collaboration. According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, Apple's potential smart glasses would incorporate AI, cameras, microphones, and premium audio features, mirroring the functionality of Meta's offering 1.
The proposed glasses would be designed to be lightweight and seamlessly integrated with the iPhone, allowing for all-day wear. This move comes as Apple continues to explore ways to expand its presence in the wearable technology market 2.
While the concept is intriguing, Gurman suggests that it could take three to five years for Apple to bring these smart glasses to market. This extended timeline reflects the complexity of developing such a product and the company's commitment to perfecting its offerings before release 1.
Apple's interest in smart glasses comes in the wake of challenges faced by its other AR/VR initiatives. The Apple Vision Pro headset, priced at $3,500, has reportedly struggled to gain traction due to its high cost, comfort issues, and failure to meet expectations in the AR/VR space 1.
It's worth noting that this isn't Apple's first attempt at developing AR glasses. The company previously worked on a project aimed at creating AR glasses to compete with Ray-Ban's smart glasses. However, this initiative was shelved after the device failed to meet evaluation standards and the development team struggled to define its full potential 1.
If Apple proceeds with the development of these smart glasses, they are expected to be tightly integrated with the iPhone ecosystem. Gurman speculates that combining Apple's design expertise with AirPods-level audio quality could result in a "smash hit" product 2.
Apple is reportedly conducting user studies at its offices to gauge the appeal of various features and interfaces for the potential smart glasses. The company is also working on a version of visionOS that could run on glasses, codenamed "Atlas" 2.
While these smart glasses may not offer full augmented reality capabilities like the envisioned Apple Glass, they could serve as a stepping stone towards that goal. The development of this product aligns with Apple's long-term strategy in the AR space, which has been the subject of rumors for nearly a decade 2.
In addition to smart glasses, Apple is reportedly "actively developing" a product that would combine AirPods with cameras. These enhanced AirPods would utilize cameras to power AI features by gathering information about the surrounding environment, similar to the Visual Intelligence feature on supporting iPhone models 2.
Reference
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Meta is expanding its smart glasses lineup, including Oakley-branded glasses for athletes and advanced models with displays, as part of its broader push into AI and wearable technology.
9 Sources
9 Sources
Apple is developing a range of new AR/VR products, including a cheaper Vision headset, smart glasses to rival Meta, and AirPods with cameras, as part of its long-term strategy in the mixed reality market.
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6 Sources
Apple is reportedly reconsidering its strategy for the Vision Pro, exploring various options for future iterations including AR glasses. The tech giant is also looking into integrating AI and AirPods technology into its mixed reality offerings.
5 Sources
5 Sources
OpenAI and Apple are reportedly developing smart glasses, intensifying competition in the AI-powered wearable market. This move challenges Meta's current leadership in the smart eyewear sector.
2 Sources
2 Sources
Meta plans to incorporate small displays into Ray-Ban smart glasses by 2025, aiming to enhance functionality and challenge smartphone dominance. This move represents a significant step towards mixed reality technology in wearable devices.
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10 Sources
