**The Future of Augmented Reality: From Vision Pro to Smart Goggles**
It is generally accepted that while Apple welcomes any sales of the Vision Pro, the chief intention behind the current headset is to initiate the journey toward an Apple Glasses product. The Vision Pro, despite its high price and somewhat hefty design, is regarded as a cornerstone device to form a mixed-reality ecosystem.
### Vision Pro: A Step Toward Apple Glasses
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has highlighted that the Vision Pro’s primary function is to start building a mixed-reality ecosystem for Apple. An update for the device is anticipated this year, improving its chip and comfort while keeping its existing price. A more budget-friendly variant of the Apple Vision is reportedly under development, although it is not expected to debut before 2027, aligning with the anticipated launch of Apple’s Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses equivalent.
Apple’s ultimate aim is to create a gadget that can provide augmented reality content in a genuine glasses format, a task that is still several years ahead. Meeting the quality and usability standards associated with Apple products in such a compact design presents a considerable challenge.
### Emerging Product Categories
The current timeline for augmented reality devices can be divided into the following categories:
1. **Bulky Headsets**: Such as Meta Quest and Vision Pro.
2. **Interim Smart Glasses**: Items with constrained functionalities, for instance, Ray-Ban Meta.
3. **Apple Glasses and Competitors**: Upcoming devices that aim to provide AR content in a glasses structure.
Moreover, there are “face monitors,” which are essentially displays shaped like glasses, yet they do not belong in the traditional smart glasses category.
### The Potential for Smart Goggles
Recently, Meta revealed a prototype named Meta Orion, designed to bridge the divide between smart glasses and bulky headsets. Nevertheless, it remains sufficiently large to be regarded more as goggles rather than actual glasses.
A report indicates that ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is working on its own mixed-reality goggles, targeting a lightweight design that delegates computing tasks to an external puck. This may indicate the rise of a novel product category that exists between headsets and smart glasses.
Although these goggles might not be ideal for everyday wear, they could present considerable utility for home or office environments, potentially establishing a new market segment. The updated timeline could involve:
1. **Bulky Headsets**: Such as Meta Quest and Vision Pro.
2. **Interim Smart Glasses**: With limited capabilities, similar to Ray-Ban Meta.
3. **Goggle Products**: A hybrid design that merges headsets and glasses.
4. **Apple Glasses and Competitors**: The ultimate aim for AR content delivery.
### Conclusion
The realm of augmented reality is advancing, with Apple and other technology leaders investigating diverse form factors to offer immersive experiences. As technology progresses, the potential for smart goggles might bridge the gap until genuine AR glasses become a reality. The future of AR devices looks bright, and consumer demand will likely influence the path these innovations take.
