Apple shifts focus from Vision Pro to smart glasses

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Apple may not be first to the smart glasses party, but it’s about to crash it in a very Apple way: by shelving one project, throwing engineers at another, and hoping we’ll all forget they’re late. 

According to Bloomberg, Apple is accelerating development on a pair of smart glasses meant to rival Meta’s Ray-Ban lineup, while quietly pulling the plug on its rumored “lighter” Vision Pro headset.

Here’s the plan: Apple is working on two sets of glasses. First up is a screen-free version, which could be shown off as early as next year and released in 2027. 

Think stylish frames with cameras, speakers, and a heavy reliance on voice commands and AI. 

Then there’s the fancier pair, the ones with an actual display built into the lenses, originally penciled in for 2028 but now being rushed forward. 

That model could take direct aim at Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses, which tuck a tiny screen into one lens and have impressed even the skeptics.

The hardware itself sounds like Apple’s usual formula: sleek design options, a dedicated custom chip, and, if history is any guide, a price tag that makes you wonder if you actually need glasses.

Meta already has its second-gen Ray-Ban smart glasses with better battery life on shelves, Oakley-branded sport models coming soon, and the surprisingly good Display glasses that have gotten rave reviews.

Meanwhile, Apple’s Vision Pro team is feeling the squeeze. The lighter headset version once rumored for 2027 is officially on ice, with staff reassigned to focus on the glasses instead. 

That doesn’t mean Vision Pro is dead, though, filings this week suggest a modest refresh of the original headset could drop by the end of this year.

So, while Meta’s been strutting around the block in its Ray-Bans, Apple’s been quietly polishing its frames in the garage.

Is Apple smart to pivot away from headsets toward everyday smart glasses, or are they just chasing Meta’s lead too late? Would you actually wear AI-powered smart glasses in public, or does the idea still feel too creepy regardless of the brand? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.