Apple right now despatched out surveys to some Imaginative and prescient Professional customers, asking them a collection of questions concerning the utility of assorted options, owned equipment, and most curiously, competing units.
A lot of the survey requested for suggestions on display decision, match, and different elements, however there are some highlights. Apple requested about Visitor Mode, whether or not the Imaginative and prescient Professional iPhone app is helpful, and what equipment, if any, are used with the headset.
There have been particular questions on competing blended actuality and digital actuality headsets, together with a query about sensible glasses. Customers have been requested in the event that they owned the next: Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Professional, Different Meta Quest headset, PlayStation VR, Valve Index, or ByteDance Professional. As for sensible glasses, Apple requested concerning the Meta Ray-Ban sensible glasses, the Amazon Echo Frames, and the Snapchat Spectacles.
The PlayStation VR and Meta Quest units are Imaginative and prescient Professional rivals, however Apple doesn’t have a product that’s the equal of the Meta Ray-Bans or Amazon Echo Frames as of now. Apple needs to compete with these merchandise, although, and rumors counsel that it’s developing smart glasses that can be related in operate and kind to the Meta Ray-Bans.
Over the weekend, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple will release its first smart glasses in 2027, although different sources like Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman imagine they may launch in 2026.
Kuo says the sensible glasses may have a number of body and temple materials choices for a customized look, together with help for voice management, gesture recognition, and audio playback. Built-in cameras will permit customers to seize images and movies, with the cameras additionally feeding data to a built-in AI assistant that may have environmental consciousness. The 2027 sensible glasses can be adopted by “XR Glasses” with an built-in show for augmented actuality options.
As for the Imaginative and prescient Professional, a revised mannequin may come as quickly as this 12 months, with Apple including an M5 chip however no different options. In 2027, Kuo claims Apple will launch the “Apple Imaginative and prescient Air,” a brand new Imaginative and prescient Professional mannequin that is “considerably lighter” and cheaper, incorporating an iPhone chip as an alternative of a Mac chip. In 2028, Apple is planning for the second-generation Imaginative and prescient Professional with an overhauled design, Mac-grade processor, and cheaper price.