Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly needs to launch a less expensive AR/VR Imaginative and prescient headset, codenamed N107, as quickly as late 2025. Whereas the corporate set this plan even earlier than the Imaginative and prescient Professional‘s launch, it would fail to fulfill the deadline.
The corporate’s engineers are struggling to cut back prices with out affecting the headset’s key options.
Cheaper Imaginative and prescient headset might require a tethered iPhone or Mac to work
The $3,500 Imaginative and prescient Professional launched with a lot hype in early 2024. Regardless of Apple’s finest efforts, although, the mixed-reality headset has did not take off. Its steep price ticket is one purpose.
One other main subject is the dearth of high quality apps and content material for visionOS that make the most of the headset’s spatial computing capabilities. The Imaginative and prescient Professional’s US availability additionally restricted its attain. However it will change later this month, because the headset will debut in China, Singapore, and several other different main European markets.
Mark Gurman, in his newest Energy On publication version, claims Apple is testing narrowing the sphere of view on the cheaper Imaginative and prescient headset. Supposedly, the corporate can be contemplating requiring a tethered iPhone or Mac for the headset to work. The transfer will assist Apple take away quite a lot of chips and parts, serving to scale back the general element prices.
This transfer would imply that it’s essential to join the Imaginative and prescient headset to an iPhone or Mac to work.
Imaginative and prescient Professional 2 additionally in growth
Whereas nonetheless a number of years from launch, Apple can be engaged on the Imaginative and prescient Professional successor. Codenamed N109, the prevailing prototype seems just like the present mannequin and includes a sooner processor and improved exterior cameras. Apple is exploring methods to make the second-gen Imaginative and prescient Professional lighter and extra snug to put on.
A earlier report claimed the Imaginative and prescient Professional 2 may not arrive till the top of 2026, so quite a bit might change by then. Apple has additionally “renewed efforts” to develop its AR glasses. However they’re nonetheless within the early levels of growth and are unlikely to be prepared within the subsequent few years.