2024-08-13
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Vision Pro has been on sale for half a year. Although the market response has not been as enthusiastic as when the iPhone was released, Apple's Vision Pro team is still developing a series of new products in a multi-pronged manner - three models have been exposed so far.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's Vision team is continuing to experiment with several different wearable VR/AR glasses products, including a more affordable Apple Vision headset, a second-generation Apple Vision Pro, and a pair of smart glasses similar to the Ray Ban Meta.
Since Apple's debut at WWDC 2023 last year, Apple Vision Pro has quickly attracted widespread attention from the industry and users with its breakthrough spatial computing capabilities and immersive experience.
However, despite its impressive technology, its high price has deterred many people from purchasing it. A year after its release, both its reputation and sales have continued to show a trend of opening high and ending low.
According to the latest data from IDC, Apple Vision Pro only caused a brief craze when it was released, but the purchasing enthusiasm did not meet expectations. The sales volume in a single quarter did not reach 100,000 units. The sales volume in the United States in the third quarter of this year may drop by 75% compared with the second quarter.
However, Apple has not been affected by the slowdown in Vision Pro sales, and the Vision Products Group, which is responsible for head-mounted display equipment, is still exploring different products.
Among them, the affordable version of Vision Pro "may be launched as early as next year." Previously, The Information reported that Apple has been planning to develop an affordable headset with the internal code name Project Alaska and marked as "N109" since 2022.
It maintains the high-resolution display and appearance of Vision Pro, and the gesture + eye tracking interaction method will not be much different, but the weight will be reduced and the price will be half of the current Vision Pro. It is expected to be accepted by more people and become a new opportunity to expand the Vision Pro ecosystem.
Apple is also said to be developing a second-generation Apple Vision Pro, which may be officially released in 2026.
Previously, South Korean media Sisa Journal reported that Samsung and LG have used tandem OLED technology to produce prototypes of micro-OLED displays. The Vision Pro uses micro-OLED technology, which, as they said, "paves the way for future models of Apple Vision Pro devices to adopt this technology."
Apple has already used this tandem OLED display technology in the iPad Pro it released previously, stacking two light-emitting layers together. Compared with a single-layer OLED, it can effectively improve brightness and efficacy, extend service life, and bring a better sense of immersion.
However, Mark Gurman still expressed concerns about the future of Apple Vision Pro:
What's the point? These kinds of devices haven't captured consumers' imaginations yet, and it's hard to say when they will. If cheaper models don't come in under $1,500, the Vision device will likely remain a niche product.
On the other hand, Mark Gurman said that the Apple team is experimenting with smart glasses without displays, similar to the smart glasses launched by Meta and Ray-Ban.
Users of this product mainly interact through its built-in camera and voice assistant powered by a large AI model.
▲ The picture shows Ray Ban glasses
In May this year, Apple applied for a patent, which is said to have the characteristics of triple display system, precise positioning, personalized services and interactions, etc. It uses the "main and auxiliary dual screen + LED array" design to give it triple display function:
It is worth noting that Apple is not alone in its exploration of smart glasses. Giants such as Google, Samsung, Meta, HTC, Huawei, and Qualcomm have already entered the market. Smart glasses such as Meta Ray-Ban already exist in the market, which feature lightweight design, voice assistant function, and AI-assisted query, and are also cheaper.
Not long ago, Meta was also exposed to be applying for a new patent involving AR glasses, which have multiple built-in high-definition cameras, microphones, accelerometers and other sensors. They can also receive gestures and tactile feedback from "smart canes", prostheses or gloves, establish a multi-dimensional perception network, and use machine learning, pre-trained AI agents and other technologies to further enhance users' perception capabilities.
This has many similarities with Vision Pro in terms of interaction, which seems to be a bit of a "first come, first served" move:
The deep integration of this series of technologies will bring users an unprecedented diversified output experience. Whether it is easily reading roadside signs, accurately perceiving the depth and breadth of space, or even instantly identifying specific objects in the environment, it will all become possible.
Previously, Zuckerberg and Huang Renxun mentioned in their conversation that full-spectrum glasses are not far away. Omdia also predicted that by 2028, XR device shipments will reach 139 million units. As the key entrance to the next generation of the Internet, spatial computing devices have become a "battlefield".
Will the more affordable version of Vision Pro and Apple smart glasses be a turning point in Apple's spatial computing battle?
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Which product do you prefer?
Apple Vision Pro 2nd Generation
Affordable Apple Vision
Apple smart glasses
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