Apple Glass — Everything We Currently Know
Apple’s next big product category is going to be the Apple Glasses and marks there next move into wearables after the recent success of the Apple Watch and AirPods. Industry analyst Ming Chi-Kuo is even suggesting that Apple is working on augmented reality contact lenses although these would not be ready until the 2030’s. Here I am going to be going through everything that we currently know about Apple’s secret Apple Glasses project.
What will they be called?
The Apple Glasses project has been rumoured for many years, and it looks like we are steadily approaching the launch date of the product. So what will they be called? It is looking like the name will be “Apple Glass”. They definitely won’t be called the iGlass as we have seen Apple slowly begin to drop the “i” naming scheme. It may even be suggested that this product may one day, many generations of the product later, replace the need for an iPhone.
Do I need an iPhone?
Similar to the Apple Watch, you will need an iPhone paired with the glasses for them to work; this may not be the case in future generations as Apple Watch know can be set up with somebody else’s iPhone. The glasses will mainly be an augmented reality smart glasses. This will mean you can see directions for where you are going through your glasses, have your notifications pop up through the lenses, take pictures and much more.
How much will they cost?
First, let’s look at the other players in the market. Focals by North, when they first launched, cost around $1,000 until the pricing strategy was changed and they started at about $600. Google Glass first cost $1,500 and were later reduced in price. Prosser is saying that they will cost as little as $499 plus any costs for a prescription if you need one, like me. If they were able to achieve this price, they could see the same success they have seen with the Apple Watch and AirPods. They did take the same penetration pricing strategy with the Apple Watch, where they initially start at a lower price before eventually increasing the cost with new versions when it has already established a substantial market share. Later down the line an “SE” model may even be released offering a cheaper price for fewer features but same performance capabilities.
What are they made of?
Prosser has said that from the prototypes that he has seen, have a plastic frame. Although, when they are eventually announced, Apple may decide to change this to metal. For the most part, they should look like regular glasses, and they will have a LiDAR sensor on one side. Apple is known for their design, so they should look pretty good. They would certainly not release anything that looks like Google Glass. They cannot be bought as sunglasses as the display will not work on a tinted lens. This could be a possibility for future versions.
How will they work?
Prosser says that the user interface will be called “Starboard”. The glasses will be paired with the iPhone, which will mean that all of the data will be processed through the iPhone that the glasses are paired to. You don’t control the glasses through your phone though. This is done through gestures and possibly tapping the sides similar to the AirPods.
When will they be released?
When can we get our hands on them? Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is saying that we wont be getting them until at least 2023. Although some reports are suggesting as late as a 2025 release. Apple will likely want the media present at the event to demonstrate and create a lot of buzz around the product and it is likely they will not be ready to ship right away.
