Apple may have shuttered plans for VR glasses that would have to be tethered to a Mac or iPhone, but the tech giant hasn’t abandoned plans for “Apple Glasses,” according to the the latest “Power On” newsletter from Mark Gurman.
Instead, the company is taking it slowly and cautiously on such plans after the Apple Vision Pro hasn’t been a best-seller.
“In any case, it seems like the new boss of Apple’s Vision Products Group, John Ternus, doesn’t want another flop on his hands,” Gurman says. “So he is going to take his time and be cautious. I’m told that Apple’s long-term goal of standalone AR glasses remains intact, and the company will keep working on underlying technology — like screens and silicon — to help make such a device more feasible.”
Personally, I don’t consider the Vision Pro a flop. True, it’s not been a major hit a la the iPhone. But considering that it costs well in advance of $3,000, it’s not a product for everyone. And Apple apparently still has plans for future iterations of the Vison Pro, as well as Apple Glasses, though rumors are all over the place.
Apple plans to release an updated Vision Pro headset with a M5 chip in 2025, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in an “X” post. The current Vision Pro is equipped with the M2 chip, which debuted in 2022. Kuo thinks a less expensive spatial computer has been delayed to 2027 or beyond.
In an October 13, 2024 “Power On” newsletter, Gurman said Apple may release a new Vision Pro in 2025 for about US$2,000, compared to the current model’s starting price of US$3,499.
He said that Apple will lower the price by using a less powerful processor and more plastic, less aluminum and glass. Gurman adds that the next version of the spatial computer will also drop the EyeSight feature. EyeSight reveals your eyes on the front of your Apple Vision Pro, and lets those nearby know when you’re using apps or fully immersed in an experience.
When it comes to more affordable smart glasses, Apple is purportedly conducing an in-house survey on the feasibility of such a product. The initiative, code-named Atlas, got underway in November 2024 and purportedly involves gathering feedback from Apple employees on smart glasses.
This info from Gurman is from the free edition of “Power On”. If you like it, consider subscribing to Bloomberg.com—you’ll receive the newsletter earlier and get exclusive access to a Q&A section.
