Apple Stops Work on Lighter Vision Pro to Fast-Track AI Smart Glasses

[MacRumors]

Apple has decided to stop work on a cheaper, lighter version of the $3,499 Vision Pro to instead focus its resources on smart glasses, reports Bloomberg. Apple wants to speed up development on a glasses product to better compete with Meta.

There were rumors that Apple was developing a a much lighter, more affordable "Vision Air" for launch in 2027, but Apple is now transitioning engineers from that project to its smart glasses project.

Apple is working on a set of smart glasses that will rival Meta's AI-equipped Ray-Bans. The glasses will include cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities. Apple could introduce the glasses as soon as next year, and then launch them in 2027.

There won't be a display in the first version of the glasses, but Apple is developing another model that will include an integrated display. Apple wanted to debut the version with a display in 2028, but it is now aiming to speed up development because Meta just recently announced the Meta Ray-Ban Display AI glasses.

The Meta-Ray Ban Display glasses include a full-color, high-resolution display in one of the lenses. The display is able to display messages, photos, and information from Meta AI. Meta's glasses look similar to regular glasses despite the added screen, and they are the first step toward Meta's "Orion" augmented reality glasses. Meta unveiled its AR glasses last year, showing off thick pair of glasses with dual AR displays. Both Apple and Meta are aiming to launch lightweight augmented reality glasses in the future.

Meta's Ray-Ban Display​

Meta has come out with several variations of the Meta Ray-Bans since 2023, and the company has a more advanced AI product than Apple does. Apple's smart glasses will rely on AI and voice-based commands, which will require the next-generation version of Siri.

Apple delayed Siri after the assistant didn't meet expectations for promised Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18, but an updated version of Siri built on new architecture is expected in spring 2026.

Apple plans to release its first smart glasses with multiple material and frame options, turning them into a fashion accessory. Buyers will be able to choose their preferred color and frame style. The glasses will have an Apple-designed chip inside, but will still be reliant on a connected iPhone. Other features will include cameras, microphones, and health tracking capabilities.

While work on a lighter version of the Vision Pro has been paused for now, Apple still plans to refresh the current model with an M5 chip later this year.

Article Link: Apple Stops Work on Lighter Vision Pro to Fast-Track AI Smart Glasses

 

[hasanahmad]

here come the negative nancy's to say how Apple has no idea what its doing after they explicitly asked exactly for these products to come out faster. the hypocrisy below will be glaring. Ready yourself for the toxicity here

 

[now i see it]

All Hands On Deck

 

[iZac]

Plot twist: perhaps the next Vision Pro will be shoe-horned to fit into the abandoned Vision Air form factor.

 

[mozumder]

Damn I was hoping for a version of the Vision Pro that would let me drink from a cup at the same time without the huge headset blocking it...

The real selling point of Vision Pro is the virtual Mac desktop though. It's amazing and a gamechanger!

Although I would appreciate something that could take first-person photos and videos while I do something, like cook food or sports.

 

[Belisama]

"Spatial computing is the future", he said.

 

[Kylo83]

Great so just like meta they are giving up on VR, sorry but the whole Vision Pro selling point is how good watching videos and content on it, all I wanted was a newer model with better fov and lighter. I don’t like the whole glasses thing for AR. Can’t a trillion dollar company work on both. So the whole Vision Pro was a beta product they are just going to forget about

 

[GMShadow]

This the same source that said there wouldn't be any AirPods updates this year?

Bloomberg is not reliable.

 

[Robwfc]

Apple has decided to stop work on a cheaper, lighter version of the $3,499 Vision Pro to instead focus its resources on smart glasses, reports Bloomberg. Apple wants to speed up development on a glasses product to better compete with Meta.

There were rumors that Apple was developing a a much lighter, more affordable "Vision Air" for launch in 2027, but Apple is now transitioning engineers from that project to its smart glasses project.

Apple is working on a set of smart glasses that will rival Meta's AI-equipped Ray-Bans. The glasses will include cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities. Apple could introduce the glasses as soon as next year, and then launch them in 2027.

There won't be a display in the first version of the glasses, but Apple is developing another model that will include an integrated display. Apple wanted to debut the version with a display in 2028, but it is now aiming to speed up development because Meta just recently announced the Meta Ray-Ban Display AI glasses.

The Meta-Ray Ban Display glasses include a full-color, high-resolution display in one of the lenses. The display is able to display messages, photos, and information from Meta AI. Meta's glasses look similar to regular glasses despite the added screen, and they are the first step toward Meta's "Orion" augmented reality glasses. Meta unveiled its AR glasses last year, showing off thick pair of glasses with dual AR displays. Both Apple and Meta are aiming to launch lightweight augmented reality glasses in the future.

Meta's Ray-Ban Display​

Meta has come out with several variations of the Meta Ray-Bans since 2023, and the company has a more advanced AI product than Apple does. Apple's smart glasses will rely on AI and voice-based commands, which will require the next-generation version of Siri.

Apple delayed Siri after the assistant didn't meet expectations for promised Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18, but an updated version of Siri built on new architecture is expected in spring 2026.

Apple plans to release its first smart glasses with multiple material and frame options, turning them into a fashion accessory. Buyers will be able to choose their preferred color and frame style. The glasses will have an Apple-designed chip inside, but will still be reliant on a connected iPhone. Other features will include cameras, microphones, and health tracking capabilities.

While work on a lighter version of the Vision Pro has been paused for now, Apple still plans to refresh the current model with an M5 chip later this year.

Article Link: Apple Stops Work on Lighter Vision Pro to Fast-Track AI Smart Glasses

So they are already 2 or 3 years behind and haven’t really started yet…

 

[titanium69]

Apple just playing catch up in everything… smart glasses, AI & foldables…. & then bring out something rubbish.

They lost that sense of leadership… now the Accounts team decide what to do… like having miser parents… ur the richest yet most boring & uninteresting family on the block

 

[chfilm]

Noooo! I so want the Vision Air as a portable giant screen that's actually wearable!!

 

[tim-apple-silicon]

Seems they lack vision

 

[asdfjkl;]

Yawn. Overpriced toy with no practical value. Hard pass.

 

[Macaholic868]

Seems they lack vision

I see what you did there…..

 

[Pitogyro]

Even if they keep the name “Apple Vision” for the glasses, there’s no escaping the fact that ‘spatial computing’ / mixed reality was complete bollocks.

 

[Hajj.david]

Disappointing the Vision Pro is an amazing product that just needs some few key smart decisions made to really make it take off. You still can't even buy a vision pro outside of an Apple Store

 

[jz0309]

This the same source that said there wouldn't be any AirPods updates this year?

Bloomberg is not reliable.

more specifically: Gurman

maybe, maybe they de-prioritized that work but stopping it does not make any sense at all. Prioritizing glasses over the headset might make sense.
But VPro and glasses are for quite different use cases and users imho, so I think Apple continues to work on both

 

[Avatar74]

Just going to leave this right here...

Apple's bread and butter has been convenience. MR will take off when it has a practical application, and there is one that's a little ways off from where we are now... purchasing convenience.

I've said before and I'll repeat here: The biggest mistake is trying to get everyone to go to the metaverse, rather than the other way around. You've got to make it more convenient to use MR than to not use it.

In that regard, the biggest segment they can go after is retail and the biggest thing they can do for retail is make it ridiculously easy for you to impulse buy, exactly what they did for music.

Forget about the current state of the technology right now... imagine being able to look through ordinary eyeglass lenses in ordinary frames, at someone wearing a jacket, and say, "I want that," and an order is created, direct from the manufacturer or distributor, in your size, to your address, billed to your account, all at the snap of a finger.

That's the kind of convenience that can't be ignored, and drives mass adoption. Now think bigger... interior decor, furniture, every day items you see. One of the biggest things we do in societies that can afford Apple tech is we want what someone else has that we don't.

That's trillions of dollars of impulse purchasing and whoever cracks that nut will obliterate Amazon.

 

[hasanahmad]

Summary:

1. Apple originally slated iPhone connected AI glass for 2027, it might launch now in 2026
2. Apple originally planned AI glasses with display for 2028, it might launch now in 2027
3. Apple's focus will be voice first control + On Device AI to power glasses, audio and display
4. Expected to have multiple styles, A new chip, speakers and health features
5. Apple is pivoting Vision pro towards Business use

 

[Populus]

I mean, yeah, smart glasses were the endgame all along, but a visor such as the Vision Pro also has its niche. And a lighter, and much more affordable Vision helmet, would have been a relative success, in my opinion. Although I am not a Vision-Air (terrible joke, I know)

 

[hieranonymous]

The Meta glasses are a surprisingly decent piece of kit once you disable all the creepy Meta AI cruft. An Apple analogue (headphones plus camera) with AirPods-like system integration would be a considerable improvement.

Apple should have anticipated, rather than been caught off guard by, the recent popularity of smart glasses.

 

[Macaholic868]

I love my Vision Pro but AR glasses with two displays running a version of VisionOS are much more likely to be a bigger hit with consumers than goggles that make you look like a dork when wearing them outside of your home ever will be.

I do think both have a place and I concur with others who say it’s a trillion dollar company so you can’t sell me that they can’t do both at the same time.

 

[Robbrag]

 

[hasanahmad]

The Meta glasses are a surprisingly decent piece of kit once you disable all the creepy Meta AI cruft. An Apple analogue (headphones plus camera) with AirPods-like system integration would be a considerable improvement.

Apple should have anticipated, rather than been caught off guard by, the recent popularity of smart glasses.

The Meta AI glasses are not mainstream. Apple is looking for it and Google to make it mainstream. You can see the lack of hype at launch for the glasses outside of tech journalists and tech bros. Most mainstream consumers are waiting for a non-meta version as the non Gen X crowd dislikes meta as a company

 

[Kylo83]

I love my Vision Pro but AR glasses with two displays running a version of VisionOS are much more likely to be a bigger hit with consumers than goggles that you like a dork when wearing outside of your home will ever be.

I concur with others though, it’s a trillion dollar company so you can’tsell me that they can’t do both….

but the best thing about Vision Pro is watching movies on huge screens in some ways better than your home set up, so with ar glasses you loose the best part of what made Vision Pro good