Apple Developing New Chips for Smart Glasses, Macs & More
▼ Summary
– Apple is developing new chips for smart glasses, Macs, and AI servers, aiming to compete with Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta.
– One of the chips is inspired by the Apple Watch’s low-power processors and is planned for mass production with TSMC by late 2026 or 2027.
– Apple CEO Tim Cook is focused on surpassing Meta in the smart glasses market, where Meta has sold 2 million Ray-Ban Metas since 2023.
– Apple is exploring non-AR glasses that use cameras and AI to scan environments and assist users.
– A processor in development will efficiently control these glasses’ cameras and components while conserving battery life.
Apple is reportedly working on next-generation chips designed to power smart glasses, high-performance Macs, and AI server solutions, signaling a major push into new hardware categories. Sources indicate these custom silicon solutions could enter mass production as early as late 2025 or 2027 through Apple’s manufacturing partner TSMC.
One of the upcoming chips draws inspiration from the energy-efficient architecture of Apple Watch processors, suggesting a focus on balancing performance with battery life. This approach would be critical for wearable devices like smart glasses, where prolonged usage without frequent charging is essential.
Smart glasses appear to be a key priority in Apple’s roadmap, with the company reportedly aiming to challenge Meta’s early dominance in the space. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have already gained traction, selling approximately 2 million units since their 2023 launch. Unlike Meta’s AR-focused approach, Apple is said to be developing camera-equipped glasses that leverage AI for real-time environmental analysis, offering practical assistance without augmented reality overlays.
The specialized processor for these glasses would handle camera operations and sensor data processing efficiently, minimizing power consumption. Beyond wearables, Apple’s chip advancements are also expected to enhance Mac performance and support AI-driven server applications, reinforcing the company’s broader silicon strategy.
With competition heating up in both wearables and AI hardware, Apple’s latest developments could position it as a formidable player across multiple cutting-edge markets.
(Source: TechCrunch)
