Apple smart glasses could reportedly be in the works as a new type of wearable device to rival Meta’s Ray-Ban. Apple is working on a cheaper Vision Pro headset for next year, with smart glasses coming later.
The Apple Vision Pro, and its Potential Cheaper Sibling
First unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) last year, the Apple Vision Pro headset is priced from an eye-watering USD 3,499 (around Rs 2.94 lakh). Although many reviews dubbed the device a marvel of new features and technology, it also met with significant push-back over its price point. While the criticism is damning, Apple continues to double down on its position in AR and VR.
Following feedback regarding the steep price of Vision Pro, Apple is said to be developing a more affordable version of the headset scheduled for launch in 2025. The exact details and the list price for this entry-level model are not yet known, but previous reports have stated that it could be priced between USD 1,500 (approx Rs 1.26 lakh) to USD 2,000 (approx Rs 1.68 lakh). This might allow a wider audience to access the AR experience and have it present for more people, which could boost Apple’s market.
The Apple Smart Glasses in the Works
Apple is also looking into creating smart glasses, which would allow for something much lighter weight and more wearable than the Vision Pro headset when it comes to AR experience. Speculations say that these smart glasses would be AR-based and functionality-wise similar to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. Apple’s smart glasses are not arriving anytime soon. This report didn’t pin down an exact launch date for Apple’s visionOS-based spinoffs, but it did suggest that the company was likely to announce its first wearable in 2027.
Apple’s smart glasses are a strategic effort to penetrate an emerging niche. If creating something less conspicuous and more worn than a headset made it possible for Apple to offer consumers applications that let them get daily use out of augmented reality — think city-based alerts, navigation tools, or notifications already streamed into their eyeline without lifting your smartphone save & Solitaire chess matches on-and-off devices they own with nothing but eye tracking head-mounted display-style fixing screen placement hands-free interaction — wonderful! If it works, Apple’s smart glasses and other products will be able to take down Ray-Ban-type smart eyewear from Meta.
Upcoming Apple AR, VR Products
Beyond the smart glasses and budget Vision Pro, a second-generation Vision Pro headset is queued up according to reports. It will include upgrades, like a quicker processor and enhanced external cameras for better AR and VR experiences. If Apple could somehow bowl these additional high-end features on top of all this with lower rates, it concedes that front-rank in tentpole however too — if being powerless to either gratify its consumers’ background strategies.
The Upcoming iPhone 16 Series
Separately, Apple is also preparing to launch the iPhone 16 series including the iPhone 16 and its other variants — it’s predecessor, of course. This launch is slated to take place sometime around September 10, similar in timing to the release of the iPhone 15 series. The iPhone 16 is rumored to come with a vertical camera layout, like the X or those in every phone since then (yes, including from last year’s model) instead of voting for its predecessor’s diagonal way. In turn, this change is said to improve the devices’ spatial video capture ability, which could become a major selling point.
Other rumors surrounding the new devices include that Apple will swap out the mute hole on standard iPhone 16 models for its Action Button, which was added to last year’s iPhone 15 Pro. It allows users quick access to a few features like launching the camera, flashlight, and can also be personalized based on individual needs.
Conclusion
Apple is continuing to invest in augmented and virtual reality technology, which means it has another stake for controlling the future of digital interaction. Apple is preparing to become a serious player in AR and VR with plans for smart glasses, a cheaper Vision Pro headset, and a second-gen version. As Apple gears up for its new devices and the upcoming launch of the iPhone 16 series, even now partially refreshing its product ecosystem — this goes to show their direction.
With Apple’s advancements in AR and VR, we can expect more devices that will provide best-in-class experiences on various levels moving forward. Whether through smart glasses, headsets, or smartphones — whichever form factor its new products take — Apple is about to redefine how users interact with technology in daily life.
