[News] Apple Reportedly Cancels Mac-Connected AR Glasses Project

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According to a report from The Verge, citing Bloomberg, Apple has reportedly canceled its project to develop advanced AR glasses designed to pair with other Apple devices, marking another setback in the company’s ongoing effort to create a headset that appeals to mainstream consumers.

The report states that the product, codenamed N107, resembled regular glasses but incorporated displays in the lenses that could connect to a Mac. Initially, Apple intended for the glasses to pair with an iPhone, but challenges arose regarding the processing power limitations. As a result, the company pivoted to linking the device with a Mac computer instead. However, according to Bloomberg, the Mac-connected version reportedly performed poorly during executive reviews.

As highlighted by Bloomberg, the project was seen as a potential path forward following the underwhelming launch of the Apple Vision Pro, a USD 3,499 device that was considered too bulky and expensive. However, the report points out that while Apple aimed to develop a product accessible to everyday users, the challenge of finding the right technology at a reasonable cost remained a significant hurdle.

This latest cancellation casts further uncertainty over Apple’s future in AR and XR. According to The Verge, the company had reportedly scrapped another AR glasses project in 2023, and rumors suggest that work on the Vision Pro 2 has been put on hold to prioritize the development of a more affordable version of the Vision Pro. Meanwhile, the Vision Pro itself has struggled to gain widespread traction.

The report from The Verge also highlights that with this cancellation, Apple is falling further behind in the smart glasses race, as Google has recently stepped into the market with Android XR, while Samsung is working on its Project Moohan headset. Meanwhile, Meta has showcased its Orion glasses. The company is also expected to launch Oakley-branded smart glasses for athletes, along with a higher-end version of its current Ray-Ban glasses featuring a display, in 2025, as highlighted by The Verge.

TrendForce’s 2024 report on near-eye displays posits that the AR device market is anticipated to hit 25.5 million units by 2030, with LEDoS technology projected to capture 44% of the market as it establishes itself as the leading solution.

Read more

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• [News] CES 2025: Multiple Near-Eye Display Product Previews Released
• Meta Unveils First AR Glasses Prototype “Orion” that Employs LEDos Technology, Says TrendForce

(Photo credit: Apple)