Apple presses pause on Vision Pro successor to chase smart glasses future

Apple’s splashy Vision Pro headset may have been billed as the dawn of spatial computing, but the company is already changing lanes. According to a Bloomberg report, the Cupertino giant has pulled engineers off its upcoming N100 headset, a cheaper, lighter Vision Pro once targeted for 2027, and reassigned them to a different priority project, smart glasses.

The decision is all about timing the market. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are already on shelves, and the second-generation variant was recently announced. Naturally, Apple doesn’t want to watch the train leave the station, so it’s accelerating its own entry into the smart glasses game. Reportedly, staff were told last week that work on glasses will now take precedence over the next Vision Pro variant.

Two designs, one bold ambition

Apple is said to be developing at least two models. The first, codenamed N50, is more discreet. It doesn’t have a display; it’s just a lightweight pair that pairs with an iPhone. Think AirPods for your eyes that can stream notifications, audio, and health insights in a way that feels seamless. It could be teased as early as next year and launched by 2027.

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The second is more ambitious. These are a display-equipped pair designed to take on Meta’s latest Ray-Ban Display glasses head-to-head. Initially penciled in for 2028, this model is now on an accelerated track.

Apple’s version is expected to lean heavily on AI and voice commands, with features like built-in speakers for music playback, cameras for capturing media, and even health-tracking baked into the frames.

Why the rush now?

Part of the urgency stems from Apple’s AI gap. The company has struggled with delays to its Apple Intelligence rollout and a revamped Siri update, leaving critics to question its ability to compete in an AI-driven future. But a new Siri is now reportedly slated for March 2026, just in time to power devices like smart glasses, connected displays, and even smart speakers.

If successful, Apple’s glasses could become more than a quirky accessory. They might be the next major shift in personal tech; lightweight, wearable, and always present. But the stakes are high. If Meta continues to define the category before Apple arrives, Cupertino risks losing the same cultural dominance that the iPhone once secured.

For now, Vision Pro takes a backseat. Apple’s eyes are clearly on the horizon, and what we’ll all be wearing on our faces in the years to come.