Apple is making significant strides in the development of its own custom chip for upcoming smart glasses, according to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman. The effort highlights Apple´s ambition to deliver a product that could directly compete with Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses within the next several years. The custom silicon is being designed to maximize efficiency, using a model similar to the S-series processors found in the Apple Watch.
The new chip will reportedly forgo certain components to extend battery life and will handle the device´s multiple camera inputs. With mass production slated to begin as early as late next year or in 2027, Apple´s smart glasses could debut on the market within that same time window. The device is expected to offer surroundings scanning capabilities and provide Artificial Intelligence-powered assistance to users, mirroring functions seen in Meta´s current wearable offerings.
Apple´s broader wearable ambitions also include an ongoing project for everyday-use augmented reality (AR) glasses, though it remains several years away from market readiness. Both the smart and AR glasses projects operate under the internal codename N401. Apple CEO Tim Cook is said to be driving these initiatives with a determination to surpass Meta, aiming for Apple to be first with a breakout product in the smart wearables space.
Meanwhile, Meta is ramping up its competition with planned releases for later this year, including an Oakley-branded smart glasses model and a high-end version featuring a heads-up display. Meta’s first full AR glasses, internally called Artemis, are expected to launch in 2027. The escalating rivalry indicates both companies view wearable devices with embedded Artificial Intelligence as a key battleground for future consumer technology leadership.
