Apple Cancels AR Glasses Project 'N107', Shifts Focus to Vision Pro and New Wearables
Years back, when whispers first surfaced about Apple crafting their own AR glasses, the tech community was buzzing with anticipation. The idea of sleek eyewear that could overlay digital info onto our real-world view felt like stepping straight into a sci-fi flick. For many of us, the prospect was electrifying.
But it seems that dream won't materialize anytime soon. Recent reports indicate that Apple has scrapped its plans for AR glasses that would rely on an iPhone or Mac for processing power. The initial vision was to have the glasses connect to an iPhone, but the smartphone's processing capabilities and battery life couldn't handle the demands without taking a significant hit. Shifting the heavy lifting to a Mac didn't pan out much better—practical issues and underwhelming internal demos led Apple's execs to pull the plug on the project, codenamed "N107."
Technically speaking, the challenges were substantial. Packing advanced AR features into a lightweight, everyday form factor isn't exactly a walk in the park. The glasses were intended to feature built-in displays projecting information directly into the user's field of view. However, this required significant processing juice. Offloading that to an iPhone drained the battery like there was no tomorrow, and tethering to a Mac just wasn't the seamless experience users would expect.
It's a bit of a letdown, especially since these glasses were seen as potential contenders against upcoming devices like Meta's wearables or XReal's glasses. The anticipation was real, with some hoping for a 2027 release.
On the flip side, Apple isn't stepping away from the AR and MR arenas entirely. They're still pushing forward with successors to the Vision Pro, their mixed reality headset that's made quite a splash despite its premium price tag. Rumor has it they're also dabbling in other innovative wearables, like AirPods equipped with cameras and advancements in micro-LED display tech.
It's a tall order to merge cutting-edge tech with the everyday practicality users expect. Balancing processing power, battery life, and design aesthetics is no small feat. Even a titan like Apple faces hurdles in realizing the ideal AR experience.
While the AR glasses project might be shelved for now, the broader landscape of augmented and mixed reality remains exciting. The technology is still evolving, and who knows—maybe in a few years, breakthroughs will overcome the current limitations.
For now, all eyes are on how Apple will continue to innovate in this space. The Vision Pro is just the beginning, and it's clear that the intersection of reality and digital augmentation is a frontier full of possibilities. We're eager to see what comes next.
