Apple Glass development is behind schedule – smart glasses will be released later than planned

According to a new report, Apple has yet to begin testing the second prototype of its augmented reality glasses. This contradicts the vendors’ expectations, who expected it to begin testing in the first quarter of this year. Recall that Apple is working on an augmented reality headset that looks like regular glasses but has lenses with built-in displays and supports gesture control.

The current prototype resembles high-end, thick-rimmed sunglasses that house batteries and electronic components according to the leaks. According to a January report from DigiTimes, Apple was about to embark on the second phase of eyewear development with a focus on reducing weight and increasing battery life. It was assumed that the company would start mass production of the device in the first quarter of 2022. However, a new report states that since testing of the second prototype has not yet begun, a serial production launch in the first quarter of 2022 is unlikely.

Sources say that after testing the second prototype, the company may need to test another device variant. This will be followed by two or three more phases of engineering testing before the AR headset can be mass-produced.

In January, Bloomberg suggested that Apple’s AR glasses would only launch in a few years, although Apple itself originally planned to launch the device in 2023. In a previous report, DigiTimes suggested that Apple launch AR glasses in 2021, while analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expects to launch no earlier than 2022.

Apple is believed to be working on several AR / VR projects, including a headset with a built-in App Store. Apple reportedly said in an internal meeting that the VR headset could be announced in 2021 and released in 2022. The headset is likely to be released earlier than augmented reality glasses.

It’s worth noting that according to today’s DigiTimes report, Samsung is also working on AR glasses that could be released next year. It is assumed that the device will compete directly with a similar product from Apple.