While the Apple Vision Pro headset is struggling to convince the general public, the Apple firm is already exploring new territory: that of connected glasses. According to a report from BloombergApple has reportedly launched an internal study called “Atlas” to survey employee interest in this type of product.
A study to guide the development of Apple Glass
This initiative, led by the Product Systems Quality team within the hardware division, aims to collect feedback from Apple employees on connected glasses currently on the market, particularly those from Meta. Additional focus groups would be planned in the near future.
The objective would be to guide Apple on the functionalities to include in its own glasses, and to identify relevant use cases for this technology. The Cupertino company has a habit of conducting this type of study internally when it plans to launch into a new product category, in order to avoid publicizing its projects.
Towards glasses lighter than the Vision Pro?
If rumors of Apple Glass are not new, this study suggests that Apple is accelerating on this subject. The company would seek to offer a more affordable and portable product than its bulky Vision Pro headset, sold for €3,999.
The idea would be to create glasses that work alongside the iPhone, like AirPods. This would allow for more autonomy, sensors and better audio technology than on a fully autonomous device.
Apple will, however, have to face competition that is already well advanced. Since last year, Meta has been marketing its Ray-Ban Meta connected glasses at around €350 depending on the model, which allow you to take photos, make calls and interact with an AI voice assistant. The social media giant, like Snap, also unveiled a prototype of augmented reality glasses called Orion, even if its release is not planned for several years.
The race for glasses of the future is on, and Apple intends to catch up. It remains to be seen whether the firm will succeed in revolutionizing this category as it did with smartphones and connected watches. Apple will have to pick up the pace and, perhaps, definitively accept the failure of the Vision Pro.
