Link: Apple reportedly gives up on its AR video glasses project

Apple recently terminated its augmented reality (AR) glasses project known as N107, which was envisioned to resemble regular glasses with digital displays. These displays would have allowed connection to a Mac, offering features similar to the Vision Pro’s virtual monitor without the high cost and bulky design.

The N107 glasses were also designed to have tint-changing lenses to indicate if the user was busy, akin to the Vision Pro's Eye Sight feature. However, these glasses lacked a camera and the mixed-reality functionalities of the Vision Pro.

A significant challenge was developing a cost-effective and efficient product. Initially, the N107 was to pair with an iPhone, but it drained the phone's battery excessively. Eventually, the connection was switched to a Mac, but this change did not meet executive approval during testing.

This cancellation casts doubt on Apple's strategic direction in AR and extended reality (XR) technologies. It also leaves Apple lagging behind competitors who are aggressively developing and showcasing new smart glasses technologies.

At CES 2025, many companies displayed their latest smart glasses innovations. Google entered the AR market with Android XR, and Samsung introduced its Project Moohan headset.

Meanwhile, Meta continues to innovate in this space, with Mark Zuckerberg promoting smart glasses as key to future AI integration. This year, Meta plans to launch sportier Oakley-branded glasses and an upgraded version of its Ray-Ban smart glasses.

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