Following the news of Apple discontinuing its Mac-connected AR glasses, the company continues to pursue the development of a standalone model. According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, this refinement process may extend the timeline.
Last month, Gurman noted that Apple had abandoned the concept of AR glasses that would connect to your Mac:
Sources close to the situation revealed that the program was closed down recently. The scrapped device was envisioned to look like conventional glasses but would feature built-in displays and necessitate a connection to a Mac, as specified by individuals who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the project. Apple has not provided any official comment.
Although this may seem like bad news, it’s not as dire as it appears. The cancellation pertains solely to the tethered model, akin to the RayNeo Air 2S glasses I reviewed previously. While Apple’s offering would have likely been of superior quality (and price), the concept remains similar.
Nevertheless, Apple’s hardware lead, John Ternus, is keen to avoid another unsuccessful launch, as indicated by Gurman. As a result, the firm plans to take its time developing the ideal standalone AR glasses, which would be more reminiscent of Meta’s $10,000 prototype showcased last year.
Apple is still dedicated to creating a pair of standalone glasses. However, this endeavor will require patience. Concurrently, the Vision Products Group is focused on developing the essential technologies that will support such a product:
Regardless, it appears that John Ternus, the new head of Apple’s Vision Products Group, is determined to prevent any further missteps. Therefore, he intends to proceed thoughtfully and deliberately. I’m informed that Apple’s long-term vision for standalone AR glasses remains strong, and the team will persist in advancing the foundational technologies—such as screens and silicon—that will make this device more viable.
However, despite their ongoing efforts, these glasses are still projected to be 3-5 years away from fruition. The introduction of visionOS indeed establishes a solid groundwork for AR glasses, giving hope that Apple will unveil something genuinely innovative.
What are your thoughts on this development? Share your opinions in the comments.
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