TL; DR
- Apple has shifted its focus toward the development of AI-powered smart glasses, a product (or products) that can compete with Meta AI Smart Glasses.
- This marks a pivot in the company’s strategy, acknowledging changing consumer trends and intensifying competition from rivals like Meta, which has emerged strongly in the wearable AI space.
- Vision Pro Still in the Picture
- It’s not like Apple is abandoning the Vision Pro revamp, as the product will continue to remain an important part of the augmented reality ecosystem Apple wants to create.
The Cupertino-based tech giant has been working on the Vision Pro’s ambitious revamp since the mixed-reality handset was released. However, according to a new Bloomberg report, the company has put the plan on hold. Instead, it has shifted its focus toward the development of AI-powered smart glasses, a product (or products) that can compete with Meta AI Smart Glasses.
Strategy Shift Driven by Market Trends
This marks a pivot in the company’s strategy, acknowledging changing consumer trends and intensifying competition from rivals like Meta, which has emerged strongly in the wearable AI space. The report mentions how Apple has deprioritized work on the “N100” project, a slimmer, lighter, and more affordable version of the Vision Pro, which was about to be released in 2027.
Engineers and resources from the Vision Pro team have been redirected toward building smart glasses that are lighter, more practical, and directly infused with Apple Intelligence and the reformed Siri with context awareness. Despite unparalleled engineering and unmatched execution, the Vision Pro remains an unsuccessful product, and that’s exactly what Apple aims to address with its AI-driven smart glasses.
Meta’s Early Lead in AI Smart Glasses
As mentioned earlier, Meta already has a head start in the market space, thanks to its first pair of smart glasses that came out a couple of years ago. The last model, enriched with Meta AI, gained traction for its ability to blend style with functionality. Now, Apple is trying to catch up and carve out a meaningful share of the AI-driven smart glasses market.
Vision Pro Still in the Picture
It’s not like Apple is abandoning the Vision Pro revamp, as the product will continue to remain an important part of the augmented reality ecosystem Apple wants to create. However, for now, the company wants to establish itself in the smart glasses arena, which appeals to a much larger target audience (including regular users, professionals, and business personnel).
Meta’s Current Smart Glasses Lineup
Currently, Meta has a total of four smart glasses in the market.
- Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: $299
- Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 2): $379
- Ray-Ban Meta Display: $799
- Oakley Meta Vanguard: $499
If we were to speculate, Apple would likely aim to price its smart glasses between $400 and $800, perhaps reaching the $ 1,000 milestone (in the classic Apple way). More details about the Apple smart glasses are expected to surface on the internet in the near future.
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