Apple planned to introduce the elegant AR glasses in 2023, after which the launch was delayed to 2025. Now all dates and deadlines have been completely canceled, the project is literally “put on hold”, as insiders say. The reason is unresolved technical difficulties.

Apple’s plans for a revolutionary gadget

The company initially expected to launch lightweight AR glasses after launching the mixed reality headset that combines both AR and virtual reality. The development of this headset is on schedule and its old version will be presented this year.

According to Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman, the company realized that the current level of technology development would not allow it to create a truly groundbreaking product that could replace smartphones.

Apple will focus on catching up with the competition and releasing a VR headset that will have a mixed reality mode. The cost of the device, which will be released this year, will be close to 2009. 3 thousand dollarswhich immediately makes it a very niche product.

Why is it so expensive?

The high price is due to the use of advanced high-resolution displays, more than 10 cameras, sensors that determine where the user is looking, as well as a Mac-class M2 processor and a special chip to handle AR and VR visual effects. Apple is looking for ways to lower the price of its next mixed reality device by using chips used in iPhones instead of components used in more expensive Mac computers. In this case, the price could approach $1500.

Trademark filings by Apple confirm its strategy to launch a product line. Documents have names Reality Professional and reality one. The name Pro probably refers to the first, more expensive model, and One refers to the cheaper model that will appear in 1-2 years. There is also a reference to the Reality Processor trademark, which hints at the chip’s name.

It is known that Apple’s mixed reality headset will use screens to create an immersive virtual reality environment, and through cameras to simulate the effect of augmented reality. This is much simpler than the technology needed to create an AR-only device that looks like regular glasses.

The ideal product that the company strives for

Ultimately, Apple sees the less bulky augmented reality glasses as a product. Can replace iPhonebrings the main functions of the smartphone into the user’s field of vision. Such a device could allow users to view incoming messages, chart a route on a map, make and receive phone calls, or take photos. However, it is now unclear whether this iPhone replacement will appear on the market.

It will be recalled that earlier Google abandoned any attempt to implement a similar gadget. His experiments with Google Glass showed that there would be no advancement in existing technologies, and without it the product has no serious market prospects.