This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
I have remained a very strong proponent of XR (Extended Reality) for years, and I truly believe that it is the future of computing. When Apple entered the market with the Apple Vision Pro, I was stoked: because this meant that other manufacturers might start taking an interest in the industry as well.
And, to an extent, that did happen. Samsung is working on its Project Moohan XR headset, Vivo just released its own Vivo Vision headset, and the entire XR industry got a lot of much-needed publicity.
The Apple Vision Pro is canceled now. Or, at least, the Vision Air, whatever naming scheme the company might have used for it. So why, then, am I happy about it?
Apple can now focus on what really matters
The Vision Pro was always just a placeholder. | Image credit — PhoneArena
Thing is, Apple only made the Vision Pro to get a foot in the door. The company doesn’t really care about selling a ton of Vision Pro units, else it would have released the headset with dedicated controllers and support for VR games.
No, the Vision Pro was made to let the world know that Apple was entering the XR market. Why? Because Apple CEO Tim Cook has a new obsession, and it involves practicing for the future of computing: AR smart glasses.
The next Vision Pro headset — a lighter and more affordable variant — was literally just supposed to keep Apple relevant in the market. Then the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses appeared in September, and Apple understood that it was running out of time.
The Apple Vision Pro has been cancelled because most consumers who want a VR headset will get a Meta Quest 3. Now, Apple can divert all resources into rushing its own AR smart glasses out the door as soon as possible. Possibly in 2027, when Meta will release its first consumer-grade AR glasses.
This is why I’m so happy that the Vision Pro got cancelled: because Apple can now focus on the important bit. No more distractions trying to drip feed Vision Pro users new content, now it’s all about the future of computing.
Which company's AR smart glasses would you choose?
Apple
50%
Meta
0%
Another company's
20%
Won't get AR glasses
30%
Mind you, the Vision Pro refresh might still come out this year, mainly because it’s ready for launch, if reports are to be believed. But this doesn’t matter, because this is just the same thing with better chips inside it.
Can AR glasses really replace smartphones?
It all started with the humble Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which didn’t even have AI or a display. | Video credit — Meta
Many of you are still not sold on the vision that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook share. Most people think that AR smart glasses can never replace smartphones. I think they can.
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The Meta Ray-Ban Display shown off in September aren’t even proper AR glasses. And yet, I can already see these becoming quite a popular accessory to the smartphone, especially if other companies jump in with their own glasses. Now take these glasses and give them true AR and more functionality, and you’ve got a winner on your hands.
I know I’d choose AR glasses over my phone. Imagine watching a movie on a giant virtual screen during your flight, or dismissing notifications appearing in front of you with a flick of your thumb (Meta’s neural wristband is insane).
In my honest opinion, Mark Zuckerberg has the right idea, and Cook is right to be concerned. Meta has a decade of research and user data, and Apple will have to work overtime to make sure that it becomes a viable competitor to Zuckerberg’s offering.
But keeping in mind how development of Apple Intelligence has gone, I’m going to remain a bit skeptical for now.
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Abdullah loves smartphones, Virtual Reality, and audio gear. Though he covers a wide range of news his favorite is always when he gets to talk about the newest VR venture or when Apple sets the industry ablaze with another phenomenal release.
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