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Apple Pivots Toward Smart Glasses as Enclosed Headsets Lose Priority

Weak demand for the $3,499 Vision Pro is steering resources to lighter wearables that lean on Siri and on‑device AI.

Overview

  • Bloomberg reports Apple has shifted most hardware engineering from new Vision headsets to lightweight smart glasses that forgo a display and rely on cameras, microphones, speakers and Siri.
  • Apple dismantled its standalone Vision Products Group last year, moving staff into broader teams, and reassigned longtime headset chief Mike Rockwell to a combined Siri/visionOS role that now centers on Siri.
  • The company canceled the lower‑cost “Vision Air” in 2025 and any new enclosed headset is reportedly at least two years out, though the current M5 Vision Pro remains on sale and still receives software support.
  • Job listings tied to visionOS largely point to maintenance work and future glasses rather than a thriving Vision Pro pipeline, and visionOS 27 is expected to focus on performance, bug fixes, and parity features like the new Siri and AI tools.
  • Coverage cites disappointing sales, high return rates, limited apps, short battery life, and a steep price as drivers of the shift, with reports also noting progress on glasses and other AI wearables such as camera‑equipped AirPods and an AI pendant.