What’s taking so long for Apple to launch its augmented reality (AR) glasses? The blame apparently lies on technical challenges.
The company isn’t the first to struggle with making AR glasses a reality. Google Glass shares a similar concept to Apple’s upcoming glasses. Glass, if you remember, didn’t stick around for very long. Apple is trying not to make the same mistakes.
Picking the right Apple headset
Ideally, AR headset users would view the world with an overlay of visuals and information via their glasses. It’s like walking around with an unobtrusive internet-connected screen feeding you important information. No bulkiness and if you live in South Africa, nothing that screams “high-tech expensive gear waiting to be ripped off your face”.
“Apple’s initial dream of offering a lightweight pair of AR glasses that people could wear all day now appears many years away — if it happens at all,” writes Mark Gurman in his latest leak.
The AR glasses were expected to initially debut soon after the company released its mixed-reality headset, which combines AR and virtual reality (VR), this year. Now that’s not happening, Apple plans to release a less-expensive version of the mixed-reality headset in 2024 or early 2025, according to Bloomberg. As for the glasses, we’ll have to wait and see (or not).
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In 2024, the company is expected to launch an advanced mixed-reality headset for consumers, code-named N301. According to trademark filings, the device is most likely going to be called Apple Reality Pro.
We suppose you could use the time to start saving up for the Reality Pro which is expected to cost around $3,000. Compared to the AR glasses already on the market, they aren’t cheap. Meta Platform’s Quest Pro, launched last year, goes for half the price.
Source: Bloomberg