YEET MAGAZINE: Apple Abandons Augmented Reality Glasses for Mac

Latesn News Technology - Innoverse By YEET
Article by YEET MAGAZINE | Published: February 04, 2025, 10:00 AM
Apple has officially shelved its plans for augmented reality (AR) glasses designed to work with Mac computers. Despite years of speculation and anticipation, the project has been scrapped due to significant technological hurdles, prompting Tim Cook and his team to pull the plug.
Apple’s AR Glasses Project Fails to Take Off
After nearly a decade of rumors and development, Apple has reportedly abandoned its AR glasses initiative, initially envisioned as an extension of its Mac ecosystem. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the decision stems from persistent technical limitations that hindered progress. Apple’s entry into mixed reality has been anything but smooth, particularly as its first AR headset, the Apple Vision Pro, has struggled with disappointing sales.
The Challenge of Miniaturization and Power Constraints
Apple had long aimed to create lightweight, high-tech glasses capable of displaying digital information through built-in projectors while remaining seamlessly compatible with its devices. However, the available technology remains insufficient to integrate the necessary hardware into a compact, user-friendly design.
The company initially explored connecting the glasses to an iPhone, but the device lacked both the processing power and battery life required for complex AR applications. Switching to Mac as a power source also proved unfeasible. The core issue lay in the inability to shrink a sufficiently powerful processor to fit within a lightweight frame without compromising performance. Members of Apple’s Vision Products Group have also pointed to internal challenges, including a lack of clear direction, as contributing factors to the project's downfall.
Competition and Apple’s Shift in Strategy
With Apple stepping back, Meta remains a major player in the AR space, finding success with its Ray-Ban smart glasses. Meta has also teased Orion, a prototype featuring holographic projection technology, though its commercial release is still years away.
For now, the Apple Vision Pro remains the company’s sole AR product. Despite ambitious plans, its high price—around €4,000 in France—has deterred mainstream adoption. Apple is rumored to have halted further production of the device, believing current inventory will last through 2025.
Looking ahead, Apple may pivot toward refining the Vision Pro, potentially introducing a more affordable version with reduced features, such as a lower-resolution display and the removal of the front-facing screen that shows the user’s eyes. The question remains: Can Apple reignite public interest in its AR ambitions, or will its efforts in this space continue to struggle?
Source: Android Authority