Apple reportedly aims to start mass production of smart glasses chips with improved power efficiency and camera performance by 2027
Apple's silicon design team is reportedly working on new chips for the company's first glasses-type device, known as 'smart glasses.'
Apple Is Developing Specialized Chips for Glasses, Macs, AI Servers (AAPL) - Bloomberg
According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who is familiar with Apple products, Apple's silicon design team has become increasingly important in recent years, especially since Apple switched from Intel to in-house chips in 2020.
With the company's expectations on its shoulders, the silicon design team is currently developing chips for 'smart glasses,' 'AI servers' and 'Macs,' according to Gurman, citing people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to the people involved, the chip for smart glasses is based on the chip of the Apple Watch, but some components have been eliminated to improve power efficiency, and it operates with less energy than the chips installed in the iPhone and iPad. It also has the function of controlling the camera installed in the smart glasses.
Gurman said Apple aims to start mass production of the processor by the end of 2026 or 2027, and if successful, it would likely be on the market within about two years. The chips will be manufactured by TSMC, like all of Apple's chips.
'Apple has been trying for years to develop a lightweight smartglass that consumers could wear all day,' Gurman said. 'The original idea was to use augmented reality (AR), which overlays information on the real world, but AR is still years away and has been overtaken by Meta and other companies that have had success with non-AR smartglasses that take photos and play audio. Apple is now continuing to pursue the AR concept while also trying to enter the non-AR market.'
Apple is also reportedly pursuing products that add cameras to its AirPods and smartwatches and integrate AI to help users.
Apple is developing 'AirPods with camera sensor' and aims to mass-produce them by 2026 - GIGAZINE
Beyond the smaller devices, Apple is also working on several new chips for the Mac, including a more advanced Mac chip it's calling Sotra.
Apple's first AI server chip is also in the works, which will reportedly help process Apple Intelligence requests and return information to users' devices. Apple currently manages AI tasks with the same chip it uses in its high-end Macs, including the M2 Ultra, but the company is aiming to improve on this with the new chip. The project, named Baltra, is expected to be completed by 2027, Gurman said.
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