Apple Rethinks Vision Pro Future as Meta Challenges Form Factor

Mark Gurman reports that Apple is exploring a redesigned project, internally code-named N224, which would shift computing components into an external puck. This approach mirrors Meta’s strategy for its upcoming $1,299 headset, which offloads processing to a module clipped to the user’s clothing. Despite the appeal of such a weight reduction, the project faces significant internal resistance. Senior executives remain divided on whether a tethered design compromises the user experience, and the initiative is unlikely to materialize before late 2028.

The Vision Pro, which launched at a steep $3,499, has been criticized for its 800-gram weight and lack of everyday utility. While it functions as a technical showcase, its bulk has hindered widespread adoption. Apple previously explored offloading computing to external devices through cancelled projects like N107 and N100, but these were ultimately abandoned in favor of an all-in-one architecture. With the Vision hardware team facing recent layoffs and organizational restructuring, Apple appears to be shifting its immediate focus toward simpler smart glasses that lack traditional displays, leaving the future of its high-end spatial computing hardware in a state of prolonged uncertainty.