Apple is reportedly developing augmented reality (AR) smart glasses, a product towards which its rivals like Google, Meta Platform and Samsung have already shown progress in recent years. But despite Apple’s efforts to break into wearables this year with the launch of Vision Pro and a new initiative called ‘Atlas’, the company’s AR glasses could be “three to five years away” from getting the vision right.
Apple is working on the weight, price, battery life and display of AR glasses
In the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter FAQ, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman highlighted that the Cupertino-based tech giant continues to work towards the development of AR smart glasses. However, according to the journalist, the alleged device is not expected to launch in the near future.
According to Gurman, the delay in producing a pair of AR glasses is due to several major challenges the company is facing. These include the development of AR smart glasses with lightweight designs, long battery life, “compelling” displays, and affordable pricing.
The report highlights that Apple will launch the device only if it gets the right balance and success on all the above fronts. Thus, it may also take “three to five years” for the Cupertino-based tech giant to properly execute its plan and introduce its AR smart glasses to consumers.
Notably, the company already has an AR-like device called the Apple Vision Pro, but at a price of $3,499, it’s not nearly as affordable as other devices like the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses.
Previous reports indicate that Apple is also planning to add a more affordable version of its mixed-reality headset as part of its commitment to headset-focused product expansion. The alleged device is speculated to be a different version of the Vision Pro with a limited number of features that could debut in 2025.
It is reported that to keep costs down, the company will cut down on features, remove hardware like cameras and sensors, or even use cheaper build-quality materials. When launched, it may be priced between $1,500 (approximately Rs 125,900) and $2,000 (approximately Rs 167,900).
