Apple ' s first generation, Vision Pro, came on the market in early 2024 and raised industry concerns with its high-end configuration and spatial computing concepts. However, its successor, N224, has stalled. According to Guermann's report, the project was labelled as “life support” inside the apple, indicating that the company had not given up completely, but had not invested enough resources to drive it on the market.
The core cause of this situation is external competitive pressures. Meta recently released a lightweight enhanced reality glasses prototype, a product that functionally covers a significant portion of the experience of the Vision Pro, but with a significant reduction in size and weight. It was reported that the light design concept of Meta, which is scheduled to be officially released next spring, has directly shaken the product philosophy of the "full integration" of Vision Pro.
The Apple Project team is deeply divided on the basic structure of N224. Management is discussing the introduction of an outer-mounted battery bag (puck), which would significantly reduce the burden on the user's face by separating the battery from the headline. This option, if landed, would mean that apples would need to revisit the design commitment upheld by the first generation of Vision Pro to "all non-cell components are integrated within the headline".
However, a significant part of the Apple team is strongly opposed to abandoning full integration. According to these engineers, a departure from the design route of the first generation of products would not only diminish the technological differential advantage of apples, but could also blur the positioning of established ecosystems. The current stalemate between the two sides is also one of the important reasons for the holds placed on the project.
The Gurman report also revealed the far-reaching impact of the Apple internal management restructuring on the Vision Pro project. The first generation of the Vision Pro team had previously reported directly to John Tenus, but Tenus had now been promoted to CEO Apple, with John Surry, former head of hardware engineering, taking over as Chief Hardware Officer. The change led to the Apple's Visual Product Group, the department responsible for Vision Pro. One layer more at the organizational level than at the CEO level, facing increased marginalization in terms of competing resources and strategic priorities.
In a recent interview, when asked about the future of the Vision Pro, this organizational isolation was repeatedly mentioned. One person close to the apple said that the current voice of Vision Products Group inside the apple was much worse than before, which was the structural reason why it was difficult for the N224 project to gain sufficient momentum.
If the N224 project is not eventually cut off, Gülman expects that it will be listed at the earliest until the beginning of the next United States presidential term — around 2029. This time horizon means that even if apples decide to continue development, consumers will have to wait several years to see the product.
By contrast, Meta's lightweight glasses are expected to be available next spring, with a clear temporal advantage. The pre-emptive advantage of apples in the field of mixing real-life hardware is gradually being consumed by their own product rhythm problems.
For users who have already purchased the first generation of Vision Pro, the holds on the next generation of products mean that their equipment may not be ready for meaningful hardware upgrades in the longer term. Software and ecological upgrades will continue, but breakthroughs at the hardware level will not be expected in the short term.
For developers and content creators, the expansion of the Vision Pro ecology could slow down. Third-party developers need to assess whether they continue to invest resources in the development of applications for this platform or shift the focus to competitive platforms such as Meta.
For consumers and investors concerned with the line of apple hardware products, this message sends a signal that apples advance more cautiously in space computing than previously expected. The product road map for apples is still large – the iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to be released in September this year, and many product lines, iPad, Apple Watch, have plans for new products – but it is clear that the Vision Pro line is no longer at the top of Apple’s immediate priorities.
Several key points are worth observing in the coming months. Whether or not Apple will refer to the Vision Pro follow-up plan at the fall launch will be a direct signal to determine whether the project is alive or not. In addition, the market response after the official distribution of Meta glasses will have a direct impact on the final decision of apples on the N224 project — and the rationale for apples to continue to invest in a heavier and more expensive leading product would be further weakened if the products of Meta were to succeed.
The report by Gulman has not yet quoted any official response from Apple. Apples have not been able to comment on unpublished products, so the outside world can only congregate the true state of the N224 project through supply chain news and insider briefings. The word "life support" is the most accurate description of the project by the outside world before the apples officially pronounce themselves.