November 10, 2024, 10:37 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Apple is primarily known for its iPhone but it also has a whole host of other products in its portfolio, including laptops, smartwatches, and headphones. Rumor has it that another could be added: smart glasses.
Smart glasses have long been established, especially in spy movies. The agents put on the glasses and suddenly see holograms, can make phone calls to headquarters, look through walls and much more. In reality, smart glasses are not quite as advanced yet. However, making phone calls, taking photos, and streaming video content is easily possible. Google was one of the first well-known manufacturers to put products on the market. There are now smart glasses from Amazon, Microsoft, Ray-Ban and Meta. There have been rumors for years that a name could be added: Apple. Now, the well-known and always well-informed Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman reports in his newsletter that Apple has set up an internal group to obtain more precise data on smart glasses.
Apple commissions internal study
Apparently, Apple wants to get more detailed feedback on smart glasses, initially from its employees. It is not known what exactly will be asked. However, the aim is probably to find out which functions of the competitors are particularly interesting. According to Gurman, the project group runs under the name “Atlas” – not to be confused with Apple’s training website: Apple Technical Learning Administration System.
This is presumably Apple’s response to the latest developments on the market and also to the fact that the Vision Pro, Apple’s AR headset, is selling rather poorly. One reason for this is the hefty price tag of around 4000 euros. The company is currently working on a cheaper version that will appeal to a wider audience.
The competition, especially Meta, is much more successful in this area. The US company, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp Messenger, among others, already has a strong presence in the smart glasses sector.
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What could smart glasses from Apple offer?
The fact that internal user studies are being carried out for the first steps is nothing new at Apple. According to Gurman, this serves as an initial opinion survey without directly publicizing its own plans. It was actually assumed that Apple was not “only” considering smart glasses but was also working on another AR product. However, these plans probably came to a standstill as early as 2023. The reason for this was probably technical difficulties.
The smart glasses that Apple is now apparently working on could be a more favorable interim step. According to Gurman, the product is planned to further develop the AirPods, Apple’s range of headphones. It would, therefore, be possible for the devices to be coordinated with each other and offer their full range of functions in combination. Access to the Siri voice assistant also seems very likely at this stage.
The larger surface area of glasses compared to headphones would also create space for new sensors. According to earlier rumors, Apple could be planning to launch smart glasses on the market in 2027.