Apple is reportedly working on a pair of smart glasses to rival Meta’s Ray-Bans. According to a new Bloomberg report, the company’s silicon design team has made notable progress on a custom chip, based on Apple Watch architecture, that could power the glasses by 2026 or 2027. This comes a month after it was reported that the company has been working on lightweight and affordable glasses.
Apple smart glasses: what we know so far
- According to the Bloomberg report, Apple’s silicon design group has made significant progress in developing a chip that will be powering the company’s smart glasses. These smart glasses will help the company compete with the Meta Ray Bans.
- The chip that will power the company’s smart glasses is likely to be based on the chips that Apple uses in its Apple Watch series, as they require less energy than the ones used in other devices such as iPhones and Mac.
- The report says that the chip, which the company is developing for its smart glasses, has been further customised in order to improve the overall power efficiency.
- In addition to removing some parts, the company is also tweaking the processor to control multiple cameras that are planned for Apple’s upcoming smart glasses.
- Furthermore, Apple is reportedly exploring both versions of the smart glasses — the ones with and without AR (augmented reality) tech.
- The non-AR variant of the smart glasses is likely to use cameras for scanning the environment and use artificial intelligence (AI) for providing more features. However, the company is still exploring the approach that it wants to take in case of its smart glasses.
- As far as availability is concerned, Apple is working on its chip for smart glasses under the codename N401. The company is expected to begin the mass production of its chip for smart glasses by the end of 2026 or early 2027. This means that its smart glasses could arrive around the same time.
Should you wait for Apple smart glasses?
Apple’s smart glasses are still years away, with chip production expected no earlier than late 2026. If you’re looking for smart eyewear now, Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses might suit your needs. But if you prefer Apple’s ecosystem and want tighter integration with iPhone or Watch, this could be worth the wait.
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