Apple's Internal Survey About Smart Glasses Hints at Future Product Plans

Apple is surveying its employees about smart glasses as it continues to consider releasing its own version of Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple has launched an internal study of products that are on the market, and is currently gathering feedback from Apple employees.

Apple Glasses Triad Feature
In an email sent out to employees, Apple's Product Systems Quality team called for participants for "an upcoming user study with current market smart glasses." According to Gurman, it is common for Apple to use focus groups when it is deciding on whether to enter a new market. Using employees for the focus groups allows Apple to keep its plans secret, something that wouldn't be possible with recruiting the public.

While a product is several years away, Apple is mulling making smart glasses that are similar to the Meta Ray-Bans. Meta's glasses have a camera and integrated AI so that users can ask questions about what's around them.

Apple could potentially design a simple set of glasses with a camera, Siri integration, and built-in speakers for listening to music, plus there could be included health capabilities. The glasses would essentially be an upgraded version of the AirPods with additional capabilities.

Smart glasses that integrate just a camera, speakers, and AI would be easy for Apple to produce, and it could be a way to boost wearable profits while work continues on augmented reality glasses. Apple has not been able to make AR glasses due to high costs and technical limitations that the company has not yet been able to overcome.

Gathering feedback from employees about Meta's glasses and other similar devices could provide Apple with valuable information on what features customers prefer.

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Top Rated Comments

LoveToMacRumors Avatar
5 hours ago at 03:39 pm
Coming in 15 years at $7999
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
boss.king Avatar
5 hours ago at 03:53 pm

AR glasses are also not great because of how it works and how we use.

There are already AR glasses but they have many issues. FOV is one of the problem which is much narrower than pass through method.

But the most important issue is you will be distracted by AR while using an AR glasses which put you in danger while using and walking. Unless it works only if you stop moving, I dont think it's a good idea and it already contradicts the AR purpose which supposed to interact with the real environment.
People literally hold their phones in front of their face while walking, I doubt the type of AR achieved by glasses is going to be anywhere close to that level of a distraction.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Will Co Avatar
5 hours ago at 03:37 pm
Yes please. An Apple level of privacy with some assistive vision features. Hell, yes.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
boss.king Avatar
3 hours ago at 05:11 pm

At least phone is not blocking the vision while AR glasses do. A huge difference.
A phone is a solid object, it absolutely blocks vision. Glasses, i.e. transparent glass, simply will not block vision as much unless there's a way to make them fully opaque. Even the types of AR glasses that work by firing lasers into your eyes to project images don't block out your view like a 16 Pro Max will.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
boss.king Avatar
3 hours ago at 05:49 pm

How do you even block the view with a phone?
You hold the phone up to your face and lean in. I don't know about you but I can't see through solid objects. Next time you're out and about in a busy place, look at the crowd. I guarantee you'll see people lost in their phone, completely oblivious what's happening around them.


Besides, you are only proving my point as using a device in front of eye is dangerous.
I didn't say it's not dangerous, I said these glasses would likely be a lot less dangerous than what people currently do because they would obstruct your view to a lesser degree.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
desslr Avatar
5 hours ago at 03:39 pm
No need to waste time and money on focus groups as I can tell you right now:

NO mass market.
Product will die faster than the useless Vision Pro.

You’re welcome.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)