Apple's Vision Pro Layoffs Were Broader Than First Reported

[MacRumors]

Recent layoffs of Apple employees working on the Vision Pro were broader than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

Last month, Gurman said that Apple cut around 100 jobs from the Vision Products Group, with those cuts centered on the headset's gaming and immersive video teams. Gurman now says the layoffs also reached Vision Pro staff across the rest of the company, including people working on device security, audio engineering, Siri integration, testing, and visionOS. The cuts follow the June departure of Paul Meade, the executive who ran Apple's Vision Pro and smart glasses division, who left Apple for OpenAI.

Gurman reports that people inside the Vision Pro group have spent months lobbying new CEO John Ternus to stay the course on the platform even as sales continue to underwhelm. Colleagues who have discussed the headset with Ternus say he was skeptical of it from the start, seeing it as too bulky and too costly to reach a mass audience.

Interestingly, since visionOS apparently runs on Apple's upcoming smart glasses, the wider layoffs impact software shared across both product lines rather than the headset alone. Ternus is still said to support Apple's smart glasses project, code named N50, which remain on track for launch next year, but Gurman says he would consider walking away from head worn devices as a category altogether if they never catch on with buyers. That willingness also could weigh on the overhauled Vision Pro successor, code named N224, which is not expected before the end of 2028.

Article Link: Apple's Vision Pro Layoffs Were Broader Than First Reported

 

[wanha]

I question the mass market appeal of such things, as most people hate the idea of someone using smart glasses while interacting with them or even people wearing them around them.

However, for certain niches - cyclists, pilots, surgeons, builders, etc - these could be extremely useful.

But as long as companies think they are going to actually find a mass market for smart glasses in social environments, they're kidding themselves.

 

[Leobreaker]

I don’t think a new CEO wants “perv glasses” on his first year review meeting.

 

[gleepskip]

I think there is a larger market for a lighter, cheaper VR headset than smart glasses. We already have phones, watches and homepods.

Note, when I say larger market, I don't mean large.

 

[SilmarilFinder]

More employees worked on that device than it’s customers.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

I think visionOS was a great investment in software.

The Vision Pro hardware was always going to be a tough sale at that size, weight and price.

 

[dbwie]

This is a post on Ternus' first day. Ugh. One thing Apple could do to make the Vision Pro more viable in the long term, now that consumers are sadly having to adjust to higher prices for computers anyways, is to allow the Vision Pro to run a full version of MacOS 27 without having to connect a Mac through Virtual Display. It has a M2 or M5, and 256GB to 1 TB of storage. Make it a standalone Mac product, and offer a portable keyboard/trackpad with backlit keys for it. Include the developer strap with a faster ethernet connection, and allow AVP users to code and test what other developers will not make. Lots of people brought it home and found it was not working well, and did not realize it was connecting to their 2.4 GHz wifi. Forcing it to connect to 5 Ghz band greatly improved my experience of it. As for comfort, Apple made the mistake of saying you need a perfect light seal. This led to strapping it too tight to my face for in store demos. When I brought one home, and got the Annapro strap for it, the AVP sits comfortably on my face, for hours at a time, and the small light leak does not bother me. The other marketing mistake was saying it was AR/VR, showing that video of the guy interacting with his kids while doing spatial computing. It is best as VR, or a way to escape from the chaotic world. The AR is mostly useful when another needs my attention, or if I need to get up and walk. The AVP is the only Apple device I have, where I want to turn off all notifications, immerse myself in something, and enjoy that. Last, it's hard to eat or drink anything while using the AVP. A smaller future version, if the technology allows it, would make this easier. Nobody enjoys sipping coffee through a straw. My 2 cents. I'm well aware that others have different opinions.

 

[vegetassj4]

There go my hopes for the Vision Pro Max

 

[Hammerd]

If only Apple could have afforded extra employees to work on an innovative potential new market and breakthrough device…

 

[contacos]

I think the image of smart glasses has already been ruined completely. I'd worry to get yelled at or punched in the face eventually if I was to wear some.

 

[Mr_Ed]

I think visionOS was a great investment in software.

The Vision Pro hardware was always going to be a tough sale at that size, weight and price.

I think the jury is still out on whether it was a good investment in software. If Ternus eventually decides to walk away from head worn devices down the line (a possibility in the rumor), the software investment may not pan out.

Completely agree on the hardware. Even smaller head worn devices like smart glasses will get pushback on privacy grounds, so I’m not optimistic about the category. Maybe someone will come up with a use that is so compelling that more people would be willing to overlook the privacy implications, but I’m not seeing it right now.

 

[Rafagon]

The entire project needs to be shuttered, the employees fired, their memories wiped, and any blueprints for the device burned so that it may never surface again.

 

[emulator]

I think there is a larger market for a lighter, cheaper VR headset than smart glasses. We already have phones, watches and homepods.

Note, when I say larger market, I don't mean large.

Only if they stop giving gaming the middle finger.

 

[Etc_]

That device brought one good thing with it: Apple stores got some nice little seating areas.

 

[svish]

Think the Vision Pro with its high price is never going to be a successful product. But visionOS development will definitely continue. Waiting to see the smart glasses. They could be useful and successful with a correct price.

 

[ryan102]

Cmon John, put the Apple paperweight out of it's misery.

I'll light a candle for the 62 users worldwide.

 

[CharlesShaw]

The employees working on foldable iPhone software and hardware are probably ensuring their resumes are updated.

 

[tonmischa]

Ternus [...] was skeptical of it from the start, seeing it as too bulky and too costly to reach a mass audience.

[Ternus] would consider walking away from head worn devices as a category altogether if they never catch on with buyers.

Good man.
Go, Ternus!

 

[Happy_John]

I question the mass market appeal of such things, as most people hate the idea of someone using smart glasses while interacting with them or even people wearing them around them.

However, for certain niches - cyclists, pilots, surgeons, builders, etc - these could be extremely useful.

But as long as companies think they are going to actually find a mass market in social environments, they're kidding themselves.

This is the fundamental issue - there are specific use cases, but none of them shout “mainstream consumer”, and “mainstream consumer” is where Apple has been shifting its focus to for over a decade.

 

[smaffei]

The price made it DOA. It's that simple. VR / AR Headsets are seen as a luxury toy by most people. And, most people will not or can not spend almost $4,000.00 for a toy.

I just can't understand how Apple upper management, after seeing what the retail price was going to be, thought that the Vision Pro was even going to be profitable?!?

Then yet, Apple upper management couldn't see the huge demand for Neos and Mac minis that almost anybody with any sense could have predicted.

Maybe Ternus is taking his leaders off Cook autopilot now…

 

[hugogogo2003]

I think there is a larger market for a lighter, cheaper VR headset than smart glasses. We already have phones, watches and homepods.

Note, when I say larger market, I don't mean large.

No there's not. It's been meant to be the next big thing since 2014 and it's never been a thing apart from an ultra niche audience, regardless of the dozens of major brands making these and improving the technology over the last decade. 99% of people do not want to be closed off the rest of the world like that and wearing a heavy bulky headset with poor battery life. One day if they're able to squeeze that technology into normal-sized glasses with AR technology (and not the AR Meta one, also still too bulky) then maybe a wider audience will be interested.

 

[Etc_]

The price made it DOA. It's that simple. VR / AR Headsets are seen as a luxury toy by most people. And, most people will not or can not spend almost $4,000.00 for a toy.

I just can't understand how Apple upper management, after seeing what the retail price was going to be, thought that the Vision Pro was even going to be profitable?!?

Then yet, Apple upper management couldn't see the huge demand for Neos and Mac minis that almost anybody with any sense could have predicted.

Maybe Ternus is taking his leaders off Cook autopilot now…

Apple Vision apologists say that Apple never intended it to be a mainstream product, but rather a niche device. I never bought into that logic, Apple spent over ten years developing this hardware, poured endless money into R&D, and even revamped their entire Apple Store layout for it. You don't make those kinds of investments just to launch a "niche product," especially when you market it as the next big thing using buzzwords like "spatial computing."

 

[Astuces iOS]

Just give up on the Vision Pro, it’s not a good product…

 

[attila]

It seems that Ternus has his head screwed on right! This was a bad investment from the start. There should absolutely be a team for AR/VR R&D, but we all knew VR headsets is not ready for mass market. Nobody who isn't wearing face gear (pilots, doctors...) want a helmet when they work.

 

[Hajj.david]

No there's not. It's been meant to be the next big thing since 2014 and it's never been a thing apart from an ultra niche audience, regardless of the dozens of major brands making these and improving the technology over the last decade. 99% of people do not want to be closed off the rest of the world like that and wearing a heavy bulky headset with poor battery life. One day if they're able to squeeze that technology into normal-sized glasses with AR technology (and not the AR Meta one, also still too bulky) then maybe a wider audience will be interested.

As someone who uses the AVP for 10+ hours a day I will make the following observations:
1. Sometimes (daily) you DO want to be closed off from the rest of the world, whether you are at work, or writing up a book, or just want some quiet game time. Nobody wants to be constantly interrupted in those spheres.
2. The headset loses its bulk with the newer and other 3rd party head straps that very evenly distribute the weight.
3. The battery is irrelevant since its always plugged in

Which leads me to my next point:
Apple should have absolutely made a stripped down version that directly connects with your mac / power and have no or extremely minimal battery (like 5-10 minutes just enough to switch devices without shutting down). Remove the front eyesight thing, perhaps use plastic instead of metal (excuse me polycarbonate per Apple language lol) and it would have solved all of the issues people complain about despite never using it, especially the price.

Apple Vision apologists say that Apple never intended it to be a mainstream product, but rather a niche device. I never bought into that logic, Apple spent over ten years developing this hardware, poured endless money into R&D, and even revamped their entire Apple Store layout for it. You don't make those kinds of investments just to launch a "niche product," especially when you market it as the next big thing using buzzwords like "spatial computing."

It was never meant to be a mainstream product. It is extremely obvious to anyone with minimal deduction that they have been developing this thing for over 20 years and didn't know what to do with it. Rather than throw it all out, why not release it and see where it sticks. For example there has been a huge shift from Apple to cater very strongly to enterprise for the headset because they realize that this is primarily being used as a productivity device.

It is without a doubt the best spatial computing device. Nothing comes close to it and as I mentioned above I use it 10+ hours a day to run my business and we use custom apps to do so.

Just give up on the Vision Pro, it’s not a good product…

Its the best product in its class.

It seems that Ternus has his head screwed on right! This was a bad investment from the start. There should absolutely be a team for AR/VR R&D, but we all knew VR headsets is not ready for mass market. Nobody who isn't wearing face gear (pilots, doctors...) want a helmet when they work.

I didnt even wear glasses before I got my M5 AVP. Its very comfortable one you get the right setup to me it just feels like wearing slightly thick sun glasses.