Apple is ramping up its efforts to develop specialized chips, aimed at powering a new wearable device that integrates seamlessly with its ecosystem, reports Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Smart Glasses: Apple’s Vision For The Future
According to Bloomberg’s Gurman, the company is designing specialized chips to power these glasses, drawing inspiration from the low-power components of the Apple Watch. This chip has been tailored to efficiently manage multiple cameras planned for the smart glasses and optimized for energy conservation.
Mass production of the processor is anticipated to commence by the end of 2026 or in 2027, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) slated as the manufacturing partner.
The smart glasses, expected to debut within two years, aim to compete and offer functionalities similar to Meta Platforms’ popular Ray-Ban smart glasses, including camera integration, AI features, snapping photos, recording video, seamless connectivity with iPhones, and offering translation options.
Apple is reportedly exploring both augmented reality (AR) and non-AR versions of the glasses, with the AR variant likely to debut as part of a second-generation release by 2027.
Broader Strategy
This initiative aligns with Apple’s broader strategy to strengthen its position in the rapidly growing AI (artificial intelligence) and wearable tech markets through advanced in-house silicon technologies.
The company is also working on various new Mac chips, including processors that will likely be known as the M6 (Komodo) and M7 (Borneo) to optimize device performance, ensure tighter integration across its product ecosystem, and reduce dependence on external suppliers.
“There’s also another, more advanced Mac chip in development dubbed Sotra. The company is planning to bring the M5 processor to the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro as early as the end of this year,” Bloomberg reports.
While Apple has previously cancelled projects related to AR glasses due to technical hurdles, its renewed push into smart eyewear indicates a commitment to overcoming past obstacles.
The ongoing development of these glasses is a part of Apple’s broader effort to deliver cutting-edge, advanced wearable and user-centric technology that integrates AI and offers seamless connectivity across its device ecosystem.
