The project, which Tame Apple Press announced with much hype, was supposed to integrate with Jobs’ Mob’s devices.

The now-cancelled product was envisioned to resemble standard glasses but with built-in displays, requiring a connection to a Mac computer. The project had been considered a potential way forward after the underwhelming introduction of the Apple Vision Pro—a $3,499 model that was too cumbersome and pricey.

Apple had hoped to produce something that everyday users could embrace, but "finding the right technology — at the right cost — has proven to be a challenge."

The company risks "losing ground to Meta, which already sells a popular set of Ray-Ban smart glasses." Meta is working to add augmented reality capabilities to its devices. It expects to have a product ready by 2027—the same year Apple had previously intended to sell its device-connected glasses, code-named N107.

The decision to wind down work on the N107 product followed attempts to revamp the design. Initially, Apple wanted the glasses to pair with an iPhone but encountered problems with processing power and battery life. The company then shifted to an approach requiring linkage with a Mac computer, which offers faster processors and larger batteries.

The Mac-connected product "performed poorly during reviews with executives, and the desired features continued to change." Concerns grew within Apple's Vision Products Group, leading to the project's cancellation this week.

Employees within Apple's Vision Products Group, overseen by executive Mike Rockwell and hardware chief John Ternus, believe the team lacks "focus and clear direction."

The glasses are the latest example of Apple giving up on a once-promising technology. Last year, the company axed its decade-long effort to build a self-driving car and cancelled work on custom Apple Watch screens planned for 2024.

Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, however, still has not given up on the chocolate teapot, the Apple Vision Pro. He insists to staff that the Pro is a "technical marvel" and even mentioned it to sceptical investors during an earnings conference call.

It is a tough sale; even within the flying saucer, it is not believed. The Vision Pro's slow sales were initially attributed to its hefty price tag—roughly seven times that of Meta's Quest 3 headset. However, there's been another concern: "People who already own the device aren’t using it as much as the company had anticipated." This situation places Apple in a quandary. Even if it can make a headset cheaper and lighter, "it still has to figure out how to make the product resonate with consumers."

The company continues to work on successors to the Vision Pro, including updated versions of the original model.

The market wants fully standalone glasses—with their own screens, processors, and operating systems—that don't require a smartphone or computer. Meta, for instance, is developing prototype glasses code-named Orion and expects developers to start buying test units in 2026, with a consumer launch planned for 2027.

If there is money to be had with glasses, it looks like it will be Meta that gets it rather than Apple.