The document outlines mandatory hardware components including an LED constellation for optical tracking, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) chip for motion and orientation sensing, and a Bluetooth connection to communicate with Vision Pro, according to the specification obtained by AppleInsider. Optional features such as buttons and haptic feedback are also described, indicating Apple’s baseline design focuses on precise spatial tracking combined with wireless communication.

Apple’s new 74-page technical specification, published in April 2024 as part of its Accessory Design Guidelines, details how to build motion-tracked controllers—called “spatial accessories”—for the Vision Pro headset.

The technical guidelines provide exact requirements for the LED wavelength and radiance, ensuring the headset’s external cameras can reliably detect and differentiate controller signals from ambient light. The document also includes example main logic board layouts, component placements, and reference architectures, offering hardware manufacturers detailed instructions for designing compatible controllers. This level of technical detail reflects Apple’s intent to standardize controller performance and user experience across third-party devices, according to the published specification.

At Vision Pro’s June 5, 2023, unveiling during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the company emphasized an input model based entirely on eye tracking and hand gestures, with no mention of dedicated physical controllers. Apple’s official gesture guide describes interaction as “look at an element and tap your thumb and index finger together” to select items, with system navigation—including Home view, status bar, Control Center, scrolling, and item manipulation—performed solely through hand gestures detected by the headset’s cameras. Apple support documentation further instructs users to operate Vision Pro in well-lit environments to ensure hand visibility, reinforcing the default controller-free design.

While the Vision Pro’s technical specifications at launch listed game controllers only as supported input accessories connected via Bluetooth, these were positioned as optional add-ons rather than integral spatial controllers designed specifically for the headset. Apple’s Vision Pro tech specs, last updated in early 2024, confirm Bluetooth gamepad support but do not include Apple-branded motion controllers. Instead, official guidance describes pairing third-party controllers, such as PlayStation devices, through the headset’s Bluetooth settings, with specific button sequences required to enter pairing mode.

Apple’s support pages also explain that connected game controllers can be visually represented within immersive environments, with user-configurable visibility options including “Never,” “Only When Near Hands,” and “Always.” A Vision App Store editorial titled “Play with Controllers” instructs users to pair compatible controllers via Bluetooth and customize control profiles in Settings, indicating a broader ecosystem of supported input devices beyond Apple’s spatial accessories. Some visionOS applications reportedly require a controller for the “most engaging experience,” according to Apple’s documentation.

The spatial accessories specification mandates that the LED constellation be configured to enable Vision Pro’s external cameras to track controller position and orientation in three-dimensional space. The IMU chip continuously reports motion and orientation data, augmenting optical tracking and maintaining spatial accuracy even when LEDs are temporarily occluded. Bluetooth serves as the communication protocol between the spatial accessory and Vision Pro, integrating the controller into visionOS as a wireless input device.

Apple’s publication of the spatial accessories guidelines marks a significant expansion of its input strategy for Vision Pro, moving beyond the initial gesture-only narrative. By enabling third-party manufacturers to build controllers that meet Apple’s precise LED, IMU, and Bluetooth requirements, the company is fostering a wider hardware ecosystem similar to how it supports external keyboards and mice. The detailed technical specifications aim to ensure consistent tracking performance and user experience across different brands of Vision Pro-compatible spatial controllers.

This development follows Apple’s initial positioning of Vision Pro at launch, which centered on hand and eye gestures as the primary interaction model without introducing Apple-branded motion controllers. Game controllers were originally framed as optional accessories primarily for gaming use cases, rather than essential spatial input devices for productivity or system navigation. The later introduction of the spatial accessories specification signals a broadening of Apple’s visionOS input ecosystem to formally include tracked spatial controllers alongside existing gesture controls and supported Bluetooth gamepads.

Apple’s official documentation sources include the Vision Pro Tech Specs (Apple Support document 117810), which confirms supported input accessories; the “Use gestures with Apple Vision Pro” guide detailing the gesture-based interaction model; and the “Connect spatial accessories to Apple Vision Pro” support page, which documents pairing procedures for third-party controllers. The spatial accessories specification itself resides within Apple’s Accessory Design Guidelines and was identified in a recent report summarizing Apple’s evolving approach to Vision Pro input devices.

The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 smart glasses are expected to launch around Meta Connect 2026, with availability in the U.S. and Europe later that year or possibly in early 2027, according to multiple reports. Brightness is said to range from 30 to 5,000 nits, with automatic adjustment through UV detection. Display features include turn-by-turn walking directions with visual maps, live translation captions, and message viewing from apps such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, according to sources familiar with the product.

The new model reportedly builds on the 2025 Ray-Ban Meta Display Glasses by integrating a full-color in-lens display with a 600-by-600-pixel resolution embedded in the right lens, offering a 20-degree field of view at 42 pixels per degree and a refresh rate of 90Hz.

Camera capabilities are expected to advance with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera featuring 3x zoom, capable of capturing images at 3,024 by 4,032 pixels and video at 1,440 by 1,920 pixels at 30 frames per second. This represents an upgrade from the 2023 Ray-Ban Meta model that introduced a 12MP camera with Meta AI integration. The Gen 3 glasses are rumored to include a “Look and Ask” function that allows users to activate AI queries about their surroundings, including identifying names and addresses, a feature that has raised privacy concerns in some discussions. A capture LED will indicate when photos or videos are being taken, according to leaked specifications.

On the hardware front, the Gen 3 glasses are expected to utilize an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon AR series chipset, likely the Snapdragon AR 1 Plus, improving upon the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor used in the 2025 model. This upgrade aims to support longer and more complex AI tasks. Reports also mention a “super sensing” capability for continuous environmental awareness, allowing the glasses to remember locations and objects without user prompts and recognize people or belongings in the field of view. Meta AI will continue to enable voice control, question answering, and hands-free interaction across the device’s functions.

Battery life is projected to reach up to six hours of mixed use, with a total of 30 hours possible using a portable collapsible charging case. The glasses can reportedly charge to 50% in 20 minutes. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, with compatibility for iOS 15.2 and later and Android 10 and later. Audio hardware consists of dual off-ear speakers and five microphones to support audio capture and voice AI functionality. Additionally, the glasses may offer an optional Neural Band accessory worn on the wrist, enabling control of the in-lens display through subtle hand movements, according to sources who have reviewed the device.

Pricing details remain unclear, with no official confirmation of the $349 price point widely reported. The current 2025 Ray-Ban Meta Display Glasses are priced at $799, while the standard Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses start at $299, according to Meta’s official website and product listings. The rumored $349 price for the Gen 3 model would mark a significant reduction compared to the existing display-equipped glasses, but this figure has not been verified by Meta or its retail partners. Shipping timelines also remain unconfirmed, though reports place the launch window in late 2026 with potential delays into early 2027 for some markets.

The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 glasses are positioned as a premium category distinct from the standard Meta smart glasses line, emphasizing advanced display and AI capabilities. This follows a progression from the original Ray-Ban Stories launched in 2021, through the 2023 Ray-Ban Meta with 12MP cameras and AI features, to the 2025 display glasses that introduced in-lens augmented reality technology. Privacy concerns have been noted in relation to continuous sensing and recognition features, as the glasses’ ability to identify surroundings and individuals could raise data protection issues.

Meta’s official channels currently promote the Ray-Ban Meta glasses starting at $299, without in-lens display, and the Ray-Ban Meta Display Glasses with Neural Band at the higher $799 price point. The Gen 3 model remains unannounced by Meta, with all details based on leaks, rumors, and industry reports. The company is expected to provide official information at Meta Connect 2026, where previous product generations have been unveiled.