Apple May Have Just Discontinued the Vision Pro.
Let’s remember the Apple Vision Pro . According to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo , Apple has abandoned plans to release a new version of its VR/AR headset in the foreseeable future. Apple’s future CEO, John Ternus, reportedly approved the company’s decision to focus exclusively on smart glasses. The company has also allegedly canceled development of the Vision Air, a lighter version of the Vision Pro.
Instead of new AR headsets, Apple is reportedly developing two different lines of smart glasses: audio- and AI-focused glasses, comparable to Ray-Ban’s Meta glasses, and AR-focused smart glasses, similar to the Meta Display glasses. According to Kuo, Apple’s audio/AI glasses are expected to hit the market in 2027, while models with a waveguide display won’t arrive until 2029. I think that’s a long wait, given the rapid development of the market recently.
Apple’s long history of smartglass rumors
Apple has never officially announced plans to develop any glasses, but according to sources with considerable experience , the release of smart glasses has been a top priority for the company for some time. This 2016 Bloomberg article predicted Apple glasses that would wirelessly connect to the iPhone—an initiative that has apparently also been abandoned .
Apple Vision Pro: Too expensive, too limited, but incredibly cool.
As a relatively new Apple Vision Pro owner, the news that an improved version may never be released is certainly disappointing. The base model costs over $3,500, which is clearly too expensive for most people (Apple loaned me one), and it doesn’t really do much—the small user base doesn’t encourage developers—but there’s no denying that the Vision Pro’s technologies are often mind-blowing. This device has enormous potential, even if it hasn’t yet been fully realized.
As Kuo notes in his post about the Vision Pro’s cancellation, Apple’s abandonment of the Vision Pro and redirection to smartglasses makes sense (people seem to really want smartglasses), but it’s still a bummer. While technology may eventually emerge that brings Vision Pro-level capabilities to sunglasses, it’s unlikely to happen until 2029.
What does this mean for the future of full-fledged virtual and augmented reality devices?
With both Meta and Apple cutting resources from their flagship VR headsets (the former is also shifting focus to smart glasses) , the dream of mass adoption of VR appears to be dead. But that doesn’t mean the technology has no future. Fully immersive virtual reality seems to be returning to its roots. From 1989, when the very first VR hardware hit the market, until 2021, when Metaverse was announced , virtual reality was the preserve of early adopters, enthusiasts, futurists, and people who genuinely needed it. Perhaps there aren’t enough of these people for Apple or Meta to make big money, but I think there are enough niche applications for this technology to justify investing in VR for smaller companies. At least, that’s what I hope.