Apple’s anticipated introduction of smart glasses has been a hot topic in tech news, with various reports indicating that the company from Cupertino is developing augmented reality (AR) eyewear. Although Apple has maintained a level of secrecy regarding these rumored devices, sources suggest the company aims to dive into the smart glasses market, possibly competing against the Meta-Ray-Ban collaboration.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the team responsible for the Apple Vision Pro is currently engaged in creating an array of new devices designed to appeal to a broader audience. Among the upcoming launches are plans for a budget-friendly Vision headset set for release next year and a second-generation Vision Pro slated for 2026, equipped with an upgraded processor.
Looking ahead to 2027, Gurman highlights the development of smart glasses and AirPods with integrated cameras by Apple’s Vision Products Group. This initiative comes as Apple aims to leverage its considerable investment in Vision Pro’s visual intelligence technology—an effort to ensure that these resources do not go to waste by repurposing this tech for innovative products like smart glasses.
While it’s possible for users to experience some facets of Apple’s visual intelligence on devices like the iPhone 16, the company seeks to enhance its product lineup by “extending the Vision Pro’s environmental awareness capabilities to a wider range of devices.”
The notion of smart glasses was first popularized by Google Glass in 2014, but the latest advancements with Meta’s smart glasses have reignited interest in this technology. Apple appears poised to capitalize on this momentum by introducing its own glasses, which are rumored to include features such as built-in microphones and speakers, along with AI-powered cameras capable of scanning the environment.
Additionally, Apple is reportedly investigating the potential for AirPods equipped with cameras. The concept entails incorporating low-resolution camera sensors into their popular earbuds, designed to “gather data that could be analyzed through AI to assist users in their daily lives.”
However, the future of these innovations could be uncertain, especially following the exit of Tang Tan, a key figure in Apple’s product design department who oversaw their acoustics team, raising questions about the development of these rumored devices.
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