Apple AR Glasses Are Allegedly At Least Three Years Away

Apple announced its Vision Pro headset back in 2023. It was eventually released in 2024, although the hefty price tag made it inaccessible for most consumers. However, Apple is reportedly working on new AR glasses, which according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is about three years away from launching.

There are some who believe that the future of the iPhone lies in smart glasses. Imagine being able to wear your phone and interact with it without constantly reaching for it in your pocket. That’s the future that Apple is envisioning. However, this future could still be quite a long way to go.

The Bloomberg report cites Apple executives who claim that it won’t be ready for another three years. Even then, we wouldn’t get our hopes up. Companies have been known to delay the launch of products or even outright shelf them if it doesn’t meet expectations. Plus, it’s hard to know what the landscape will look like in the coming years. Apple could take additional time to adjust its product based on current trends.

That being said, Apple has been gathering feedback through an internal study to gauge the appeal of the potential features and interfaces. The company is also reportedly working on a version of visionOS that will power these AR glasses.

The Vision Pro-blem

While Apple has dabbled in various aspects of AR and VR in the past, the company’s first truly tangible and commercial product came in the form of the Vision Pro. The headset is an impressive piece of technology. There’s no doubt that Apple created something truly amazing and magical.

However, the main issue is the bulkiness of the design, the fact that you had to tether the battery pack to it, and how expensive it costs. The lack of apps also created another problem. Despite its technological innovations, this has resulted in the Vision Pro being largely viewed as a flop.

Catching up to the competition

The wearables headset space is extremely competitive right now. There are many who are looking to step into or step up their efforts. Samsung is working on a headset of their own. Meta is also reportedly planning to launch several new headsets in the following years. Google has also created a new platform designed for extension reality. This means that Apple is not alone in this space. The longer the company waits, the worse it could get for them, and they could miss the boat.