Apple Vision Pro's development graveyard exemplifies Apple's '1,000 no's to every yes'

Apple's approach to product development, particularly with the Apple Vision Pro, has been subject to scrutiny. Some pundits have criticized the company's restraint, suggesting that it should be more like other tech giants such as Meta, OpenAI, and Google. However, according to AppleInsider, only Apple knows if the Apple Vision Pro is a success or failure.

The development of the Apple Vision Pro has reportedly involved the shelving of several projects, including a lighter version codenamed "Vision Air" or "N100", which was discontinued last year. According to 9to5Mac, Apple is now working on a new project, codenamed "N224", which may be a successor to the current Vision Pro model or a lower-cost offering. Bloomberg reports that this new project could arrive between late 2028 and early 2029.

Apple is currently exploring four concepts for future Vision Pro models. One of these concepts, as reported by 9to5Mac and citing Bloomberg, is similar to Meta's new VR glasses, which offload computing and battery power to an external device. However, some Apple executives are reportedly hesitant about this approach, preferring to maintain a self-contained design. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, as cited by Techmeme, notes that Meta's VR glasses are what Apple's Vision Pro should have been.

Brief written by urgent.news from AppleInsider, Techmeme, 9to5Mac — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.