Meta’s VR Glasses Are What the Apple Vision Pro Should Have Been

Apple is currently navigating significant instability regarding the future of its Vision Pro headset. According to reports from Gizmodo and Digital Trends, the plans for the next XR headset are supposedly on 'life support.' Despite this uncertainty, the company continues to experiment with a variety of new design ideas. Reports from 9to5Mac and MacRumors indicate that Apple is considering four different concepts for a new Vision Pro, with a specific focus on creating a lighter successor to the original device. These efforts involve testing various form factors to determine the most viable path forward for the product line. Coverage from several specialized outlets emphasizes the internal struggle and the rigorous standards Apple applies to its hardware. AppleInsider describes a 'development graveyard' of prototypes, characterizing the company's process as saying '1,000 no's to every yes.' This high standard is further detailed by The Mac Observer, which notes that the secret prototype graveyard demonstrates the company's exacting requirements for the Vision Pro.

Meanwhile, vr.org reports that the N224 headset is currently testing a Meta-style puck, a design choice that some of Apple's own executives reportedly oppose. Contextual reporting from AppleInsider suggests a staggered timeline for Apple's wearable technology. Predictions indicate that Apple's smart glasses may arrive in 2027, while an upgraded Apple Vision Pro is not expected until 2028. This timeline coincides with the current design volatility. Newsukraine.rbc.ua notes that these upcoming smart glasses will feature no screen. The current situation is framed as particularly dire by PhoneArena, while iClarified references Gurman in reporting that Apple is testing new designs amid launch plans that remain uncertain.

Future developments will center on which of the four concepts Apple ultimately selects for production. Observers will be watching to see if the N224 headset's Meta-style puck is adopted despite executive opposition or if a different form factor prevails. Additionally, the industry is waiting for more concrete details on the screenless smart glasses predicted for 2027. As work continues on a lighter successor to the Vision Pro, the primary focus remains on whether Apple can resolve its internal design conflicts to meet the projected 2028 upgrade window.