Apple Aims to Surpass Meta with New Smart Glasses

Apple has faced challenges in hardware innovation in recent years, aside from the introduction of the Vision Pro headset, which did not receive widespread popularity. However, the company may be planning a shift in the coming years. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple’s Vision Pro team is developing smart glasses in response to competition from Meta. Meta has already gained an early advantage with its Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have seen consistent upgrades in social and AI integration.

Recently, Meta also showcased Orion, its first true Augmented Reality (AR) glasses. These glasses utilize Micro LED projectors and optical-grade silicon carbide for a wide-view display unit, featuring custom silicon and multilayer sensory tracking. This setup is integrated with AI-powered software, making it the kind of technology that many believe Apple should have already introduced. Now, it appears that Apple is planning to venture into this space, treating the Vision Pro as the foundation for its broader XR (Extended Reality) technology.

Bloomberg reports that Apple’s smart glasses could be released by 2027, aiming to compete with products like Meta Ray-Bans. The company is also focusing on generative AI tools, such as GPT-4 and Google Gemini, to develop smart glasses with enhanced world-understanding capabilities. Meta’s advancements in AI were prominently featured during the Orion presentation, raising the bar for future AR innovations.

Apple’s approach seems to involve bringing the environmental awareness features of the Vision Pro to a broader range of products. However, it may still be some time before Apple’s smart glasses hit the market. The XR wearables industry is at a critical juncture. While products like Meta Quest 3 offer premium features at a fraction of the Vision Pro’s cost, companies like Xreal, Rokid, and RayNeo are developing smart glasses with a more stylish design. On the other hand, giants like Microsoft have discontinued ambitious XR projects, such as HoloLens, despite their leadership in AI development.

Apple’s success in this field will be closely watched, as the company already has a strong foundation in both hardware and software. This combination positions Apple as a potential leader in the mainstream adoption of smart glasses when they eventually enter the market.