
Apple has stopped work on its planned augmented reality glasses, as reported by Bloomberg, among others, citing internal sources. The project, which was to enable a seamless connection between the glasses and Mac computers, has been halted due to technical challenges and development problems.
Key points:
- Project name N107: The AR glasses, referred to internally as N107, were supposed to look like traditional glasses and contain displays that could be connected to a Mac.
- Technical hurdles: Problems during development, particularly in terms of cost and battery life, led to the project being discontinued.
- Change of strategy: Apple is now concentrating on developing a cheaper version of the Vision Pro headset.
Challenges during development
The planned AR glasses were originally intended to be connected to the iPhone. However, due to the high energy consumption, it was decided to connect to the Mac. Despite this adaptation, the technical requirements could not be met satisfactorily, which ultimately led to the project being discontinued.
Effects on Apple’s AR strategy
The discontinuation of this project raises questions about Apple’s future direction in the field of augmented reality. The company had already halted another AR glasses project in 2023 and postponed work on the second generation of the Vision Pro headset in favor of a more cost-effective variant. While competitors such as Meta, Google and Samsung are pressing ahead with their developments in the field of smart glasses, it remains to be seen how Apple will act in this market.
Conclusion
The decision to discontinue the development of AR glasses underlines the challenges that companies face when integrating augmented reality into devices suitable for everyday use. Apple’s focus is now on further developing the Vision Pro headset and exploring new ways to make AR technologies accessible to the masses.