It seems Apple is finally realizing that having a "giant screen" in your face all day might not be the future everyone envisions. In a quiet strategic shift, the company has decided to reduce its focus on developing bulky, closed virtual reality headsets, directing its engineers toward lighter, more wearable devices, primarily smart glasses. This change not only means postponing the release of a new Vision Pro version, but also suggests that upcoming software updates for the platform may not be as exciting as we were expecting.
Dismantling teams and restructuring... Where did Vision's engineers go?
Behind the scenes, Apple dismantled its Vision Products Group more than a year ago, integrating its employees into the broader hardware and software engineering departments. Mike Rockwell, the man who spearheaded this ambition, now spends most of his time overseeing Siri and the VisionOS as a single entity. According to Mark Gurman, most of Rockwell’s talented deputies moved with him to focus on artificial intelligence and the voice assistant, leaving the headset’s development in a more “maintenance” mode than a radical innovation.
This structural change was a direct result of harsh reality; Apple's $3500 Vision Pro failed to achieve the desired market penetration, forcing the company to reduce production. While Apple continues to advertise engineering jobs related to spatial computing, insiders confirm that these positions are actually aimed at Apple's bigger and more ambitious goal: lightweight augmented reality glasses that resemble traditional eyeglasses.
Cancel the economy version and search for smart alternatives
There were hopes for a cheaper version known as “Vision Air,” but reports indicate that Apple canceled development of this model last year. Any new closed-back glasses won't see the light of day for at least two years. Even John Ternos, considered a potential successor to Tim Cook, wasn't known for his enthusiasm for the Vision Pro project during its development, but he sees it as a “necessary technological step” toward achieving the desired goal.
Instead of focusing on heavy helmets, Apple is now putting its weight behind smart, AI-powered devices. We're talking about AirPods with built-in cameras and other products designed to give Siri and Apple Intelligence a visual context of the user's surroundings—a move that seems more practical and profitable than confining users behind isolated indoor screens.
visionOS 27: An update for equality, not innovation
With the engineering focus shifting, VisionOS 27 is expected to be an update primarily focused on bug fixes and performance stabilization. The goal is to achieve "feature parity" with iOS 27 and macOS 27, particularly regarding new Siri and AI features, rather than introducing entirely new and revolutionary spatial computing experiences.
Apple wants to maintain a consistent user interface across all devices, which means Vision Pro users will get interface improvements similar to those in the new macOS, addressing previous usability complaints. However, don't expect dramatic leaps in how you interact with virtual reality anytime soon.
Apple's long-term vision: Are glasses the solution?
Apple's leadership still believes that the Vision Pro was essential for developing core technologies, such as eye and hand tracking and 3D content rendering. However, the current trend is toward integrating these technologies into simpler frameworks. Instead of offering an expensive home cinema system, the focus seems to be shifting toward enhancing everyday life with a smart assistant that sees what you see through lightweight glasses or even upgraded earbuds.
Ultimately, it seems Apple is pursuing a "one step back to leap forward" strategy. Lowering the priority of closed-back glasses isn't a surrender, but rather an acknowledgment that the technology isn't yet mature enough for everyone to wear something resembling a helmet in a coffee shop, while smart glasses and camera-equipped headphones could be the winning horses in the upcoming AI race.
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