It got here from the longer term
News this week is that incoming CEO John Ternus has made some tough decisions around Apple’s approach to spatial computing, terminating development of Vision Pro (at the same time as leaked images of a black model emerge) while focusing R&D on two smart glasses projects to compete with Meta.
The intention is to introduce XR and AR glasses priced at around $300 to $500 each. While not as richly-featured because the Vision Pro, they will probably be inside the reach of more people and draw deeply on the large R&D effort that went into the unique Apple AR visors. Apple hopes a deal with trust and privacy will probably be enough to push Meta aside, helping Cupertino dominate this a part of the category. If that plan succeeds, don’t be in any respect surprised to see plans for Vision Pro 2 return to the table, though that’s not the main focus now.
Apple incessantly described the Vision Pro as a product “pulled from the longer term,” a tool for enterprise users and early adopters. For a lot of such users, the prevailing product will probably be useful of their work for time to come back.
What’s strategically solid about that is that Apple has now defined future for spatial computing and is bringing components of that future to the mass market on the premise of a provable technology you may already try for yourself in any Apple Store. This can be a long game, and while it is going to take time to play out, it’s a game the corporate has proved it may well join.