Apple Postpones Lightweight AR Glasses, Plans Lower Cost Mixed Reality Headset Instead [Report]

Apple has postponed its rumored lightweight augmented reality glasses, according to a new Bloomberg report. The glasses were expected as a followup to the mixed reality headset set to debut this year.

Rather than launch AR glasses, Apple will allegedly focus on releasing a lower priced mixed reality headset.

The company had originally hoped to release the AR glasses after the debut of its mixed-reality headset, which combines both AR and virtual reality, but that part of the plan is now on hold. Instead, Apple will follow up with a lower-cost version of the mixed-reality headset as soon as 2024 or early 2025, according to people familiar with the deliberations.


Bloomberg says Apple's dream of a lightweight AR glasses that can be worn all day "now appears many years away — if it happens at all."

The company is focusing on the lower-cost headset instead of the AR glasses, which were once planned to be released about a year after the initial headset, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the project is still under wraps. At one point, Apple aimed to release the glasses in 2023, before delaying the launch until around 2025. Now, Apple has postponed the rollout indefinitely and pared back its work on the AR device.

Although some Apple employees doubt the company will ever ship AR glasses, it remains a long-term goal. For now, the 1000+ person team dedicated to AR and VR is focused on the first two mixed reality headsets.

Arriving as early as this spring, the initial mixed reality headset may be named the "Reality Pro". It will allegedly cost around $3000 and feature a waist mounted battery, a digital crown, an H2 chip, and much more. The lower cost model could be named the "Reality One" and cost about $1500.


More details in the full report linked below...

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