Apple shifts focus to augmented reality glasses

Apple is reportedly planning to focus on the development of a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses, redirecting teams currently working on the next generation of virtual reality headset, Vision Pro, to this new project, CE Report quotes ANSA.

According to Bloomberg sources, the tech giant does not want to lose ground to Meta, which recently introduced the Meta Ray-Ban Display, the first headset equipped with a screen to receive notifications and perform tasks using voice commands.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple had originally planned to launch the glasses in 2027, but Meta’s strategy prompted the company to accelerate its timeline.

Apple had been preparing a cheaper and lighter version of the headset, but last week the company announced internally that it would shift staff from that project to speed up work on the glasses. Future models could challenge smartphones, and Apple wants to be ready.

The company is working on at least two types of smart glasses. The first, called N50, will connect to an iPhone and won’t have its own display. Apple aims to introduce this model next year, ahead of the previously planned 2027 launch.

The timing aligns with a 2026 update to Siri, Apple’s digital assistant, which is expected to include generative AI capabilities and serve as the center of the user experience in both headsets and glasses.

Apple is not abandoning Vision Pro. Documents recently released by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) refer to an updated Face Monitor from Apple — likely a lighter version of the original $3,499 headset, Engadget reports.