Apple shelves Mac-connected AR glasses project before announcement

Reuters

Apple has reportedly canceled a project to develop augmented reality (AR) glasses that would have connected to Mac computers, according to Bloomberg. The decision to scrap the program came after internal testing revealed performance issues and frequent changes in the product's feature set, sources s

The AR glasses, powered by visionOS, were designed to look like traditional eyewear rather than a headset, distinguishing them from Apple's Vision Pro. The glasses featured built-in displays to project information, images, and videos into the user’s field of view, and included tint-changing lenses to signal user availability.

Initially, Apple aimed to have the glasses powered by the iPhone, but the device lacked sufficient processing power and drained the battery too quickly. Despite shifting the design to rely on Macs, the product still failed to meet expectations during executive reviews.

The project faced internal criticism over a lack of focus and clear direction within Apple’s vision products group. However, the company remains committed to AR development, continuing work on a Vision Pro successor and exploring future AR glasses using technologies like microLED displays.

Apple's retreat from this project also comes amid reports that Vision Pro users aren't engaging with the device as much as anticipated, raising questions about the broader consumer appetite for AR products.

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