Apple is reportedly scaling back its immediate ambitions for the Vision Pro line, delaying a planned "lighter" refresh and instead redirecting efforts toward creating a more mainstream product: smart glasses designed to compete directly with devices like the Meta Ray-Ban spectacles.
This marks the second time Apple has postponed an update to the Vision Pro hardware. According to Bloomberg, internal frustration is mounting, with company executives privately referring to the Vision Pro as "over-engineered technology" - a rare admission of a product misstep. Priced at $3,499, criticized for its weight, and still suffering from a content deficit, the headset has proven too niche even for many dedicated Apple fans.
A Two-Phase Smart Glasses Plan
Apple's new roadmap prioritizes the development of a lighter, more accessible form factor:
- Non-Display Smart Glasses (Announced 2026, Launch 2027): The company plans to announce a model without a built-in display as early as next year, targeting a 2027 release. This product is expected to be focused on audio, notifications, and, crucially, AI integration.
- Display Smart Glasses (Accelerated Development): The version with a display, originally slated for 2028, is now receiving an accelerated development priority. Apple is shifting resources to make this display-equipped eyewear its true flagship wearable successor.
Also read:
- TikTok’s Latest Craze: Turn Your Photo into an Anime Figure with AI
- Indian Taxi Drivers Train Neural Networks in Their Spare Time: Uber’s Bold New Side Hustle
- Shock: 77% of Gen Z Attend Job Interviews with Parents – Survey Confirms Alarming Trend Among Young Job Seekers
The AI Challenge
Technology analyst Mark Gurman points out a significant hurdle for this new strategy: the success of screenless smart glasses will rely heavily on voice control and Artificial Intelligence - precisely the areas where Apple has traditionally lagged behind competitors.
The core functionality of a hands-free device will depend on robust, instantaneous, and context-aware AI. While rumors of major internal developments and a complete overhaul of Siri are circulating, the company must execute these rumored changes swiftly and effectively to catch up before the planned 2027 launch.
By pivoting away from the immediate complexities of the Vision Pro and toward a more focused, consumer-friendly pair of smart glasses, Apple appears to be betting on simplicity and pervasive AI interaction over complex spatial computing for its next major wearable hit.
