Apple has laid off at least 60 employees from its Vision Products Group, effectively dissolving an entire team dedicated to virtual reality development, according to reports from AppleInsider and 9to5Mac.
The layoffs signal a significant strategic pivot as Apple redirects resources from immersive VR toward smart glasses, a form factor the company sees as more commercially viable. The move comes as John Ternus prepares to succeed Tim Cook as Apple CEO.
The cut team was responsible for core VR development work on the Vision Pro platform. Apple reportedly told affected employees that the roles were eliminated due to shifting business priorities, not performance issues.
The layoffs arrive against a backdrop of disappointing Vision Pro sales. Apple sold far fewer units than projected after the headset launched at $3,499 in early 2024, and developer enthusiasm for the platform has waned as the installed base remained small.
Apple is now said to be concentrating its spatial computing efforts on lighter, cheaper smart glasses that could reach a mass market — a product category where competitors like Meta have already gained traction with their Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
The restructuring is part of a broader pattern at Apple under Tim Cook's final months, which has also seen the company close three retail stores and make cuts across other divisions. Under Ternus, Apple is expected to accelerate its AI hardware ambitions while pulling back from the expensive, niche Vision Pro bet.
