Report: Apple continues to work on smart glasses without a display
Apple would like to miniaturize the Vision Pro. But that's not all: smart glasses without a meta-style display are also still being investigated.
Meta glasses from Ray Ban: No screen, but AI via microphone and loudspeaker.
(Image: Meta)
Apple is apparently continuing to work internally on a project for smart glasses that is reminiscent of similar projects at Meta. This was reported by the financial news agency Bloomberg. According to the report, the idea is to produce smart glasses in the style of – the manufacturer's highly successful – Meta Ray Ban and deliver “audio quality on a par with the AirPods”. Apple could “land a smash hit” with this, and it is extremely surprising that the company is not yet at this stage.
Simpler technology than real AR glasses
Apple has reportedly been pursuing such plans since 2024 – if not earlier. The manufacturer recently reportedly canceled an internal project in which a glasses-sized display was to be connected to a Mac (or previously to an iPhone). The meta idea is much simpler: the Ray-Ban models are simple glasses that incorporate AI technology including a camera, loudspeakers, and microphones. — They can be used to take photos and videos and, at least in the USA, – can ask the meta AI assistant questions.
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According to Bloomberg, Apple is also still discussing the idea of creating its own version of Ray-Ban glasses internally. “Such a product would not be a true AR device.” Nevertheless, the built-in AI offers a “pretty good user experience”. In parallel, Apple is also said to be continuing to work on AirPods that contain a camera. However, it remains unclear how far this project has progressed.
Vision Pro was a flop – despite groundbreaking technology
Apple's Vision Pro headset, which is already on the market, has many shortcomings: The device is too big, too heavy, and too expensive, although it certainly offers groundbreaking technology. Apple should, of course, be aware of this internally and is now investing differently than before –. Above all, the company is now focusing on making the devices lighter and cheaper. But that could still take years. A competitor to the Ray-Ban glasses from Meta would be an interim solution.
However, there are problems here too: Apple's voice assistant Siri is nowhere near the level of competing AI assistants. It was recently reported that the company would postpone many new functions for Siri until next year.
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