Image Source: Geeky Gadgets
Apple is speeding up its foray into the smart glasses business by working on a custom chip that will drive its first wearable glasses, in an attempt to compete with Meta's highly successful Ray-Ban smart glasses. The action represents a big step in Apple's overall strategy to build out its hardware platform and add advanced artificial intelligence (AI) into consumer devices.
Apple's silicon design team is making significant headway on a bespoke processor that will be the heart of its next-generation smart glasses. It is one piece of a bigger effort to diversify Apple's product line and bolster its competitive advantage in emerging areas such as wearable technology and AI devices.
Custom Chip Design for Smart Glasses
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Apple is designing a fresh chip, referred to as N401, especially for its first smart glasses.
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The chip is Apple Watch silicon-based, further optimized for ultra-low power and small size-essential for wearables.
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It is engineered to drive multiple cameras and sensors efficiently, supporting features like photo/video recording, real-time translation, and AI-driven environmental perception.
Product Features and Capabilities
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The first version of Apple's smart glasses will not have full augmented reality (AR) but will feature cameras, microphones, and built-in AI.
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Expected capabilities include hands-free image and video recording, voice assistant compatibility, real-time translation, object detection, product lookup, and navigation.
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The glasses will use AI to scan the world and offer contextual information, akin to Meta's Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Production Schedule and Marketing Plan
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Large-scale production of the custom chip is planned for late 2026 or 2027, with a possible product release within two years.
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Manufacturing will be managed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Apple's longtime chip supplier.
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Apple's move is set to directly compete with Meta, which has already sold approximately 2 million units of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses since 2023.
Integration into Apple's Broader AI Ecosystem
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The chip of the smart glasses is part of Apple's broader hardware and AI strategy, as well as other new processors for Macs (M6, M7, and Sotra) and specialized AI server chips (project "Baltra").
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Apple also looks at augmented AI features on other wearables, including Apple Watch and AirPods, signaling a progression toward an AI-driven end-to-end personal device ecosystem.
Outlook
Apple's creation of dedicated chips for smart glasses is a resolute effort to grow beyond conventional devices and build a robust presence in the wearables and AI sector. By relying on its strength in silicon design and embedding AI deeply into products, Apple is well-positioned to compete with industry giants and define the future of personal technology.
Sources: Bloomberg, Cointelegraph, Reuters, TechCrunch, Times of India, Business Today, India Today, Yahoo Finance
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