Apple has reportedly shelved its long-rumoured augmented reality project signalling a shift in its strategy for wearable technology. The decision comes amid technocal challenges and high cost production, says Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Codenamed N107, Apple’s rumoured AR glasses would have competed with the likes of Meta’s Ray Ban, XReal One and more.
End of Apple’s longstanding ambition
According to Mark Gurman, Apple decided to shelve its N107 product after facing significant challenges. Initially, the glasses were intended to pair with an iPhone, but issues with the phone’s processing power and battery life led Apple to pivot toward connecting the glasses to a Mac instead. However, even with the Mac connection, the product didn’t perform well during internal reviews, and the design kept changing.
The N107 AR Glasses Project
Apple’s N107 AR glasses were designed to merge augmented reality (AR) features with everyday wearability, offering an advanced set of capabilities. Initially, the glasses were intended to pair with an iPhone, but technical issues such as limited processing power and battery life led Apple to pivot. If the N107 glasses had made it to market, they would have included several cutting-edge features to enhance the AR experience. These would have displayed information, images, and videos directly in the user’s field of view for each eye, delivering a fully immersive AR experience.
The prototypes were light enough not to require a head strap, making them more comfortable for extended wear compared to heavier devices like the Vision Pro. The glasses would have included lenses that changed their tint based on user activity, signaling whether the wearer was present and approachable or immersed in work.
The N107 glasses were built on a foundation of advanced technologies that Apple still hopes to leverage for future AR products such as the custom MicroLED screens that were to provide high-quality displays for AR content. Even though the N107 is canceled, Apple is still developing this technology for future AR glasses.
With N107, the goal was to create fully functional glasses with their own processor, screen, and operating system, eliminating the need for a smartphone or computer, similar to Meta’s upcoming Orion glasses.
Edge to Meta
Apple’s decision to cancel the N107 AR glasses puts it behind competitors like Meta, which already offers smart glasses in partnership with Ray-Ban and is working on a more advanced version with AR capabilities. Meta expects to release a standalone AR device, the “Artemis,” by 2027. Apple had initially planned to release its own AR glasses around the same time, making the N107’s cancellation a significant blow to its position in the AR market.
What next for Apple
While the N107 project is over, Apple continues to work on AR technologies. The company’s Vision Pro, a mixed-reality headset, represents its current push in the AR/VR space, offering a virtual monitor experience to users. Apple is also working on successors to the Vision Pro, along with other AR concepts, such as AirPods with cameras.
