Apple Develops Smart Glasses and Custom Chips to Rival Meta Ray-Ban

Apple is making significant strides in developing smart glasses equipped with custom chips designed to rival Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses. These chips are reportedly based on the Apple Watch's architecture but have been modified to support multiple cameras, a critical feature for advanced smart glasses functionality.

The timeline for mass production of these chips is targeted for late 2026 or sometime in 2027, aligning with the anticipated release of the smart glasses themselves. This development places Apple in direct competition with Meta, which is also preparing to launch its second-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses around the same period.

In addition to non-AR smart glasses, Apple is reportedly working on augmented reality (AR) glasses, signaling a broader strategy to capture multiple segments of the wearable technology market. This mirrors Meta’s approach with its Orion glasses, although Meta’s first generation is not intended for public sale.

Beyond smart glasses, Apple is also developing specialized chips for other wearable devices such as the Apple Watch and AirPods, aiming for readiness around 2027. This indicates a comprehensive push into custom silicon tailored for wearable tech, enhancing performance and integration across Apple’s ecosystem.

Furthermore, Apple is advancing its M-series chips and developing dedicated AI server chips, underscoring its commitment to integrating AI capabilities deeply within its hardware offerings. This holistic approach to hardware innovation positions Apple to lead in both consumer wearables and enterprise AI solutions.

Implications for the Wearable Technology Market

Apple’s entry into the smart glasses market with custom-designed chips tailored for multi-camera setups and AR capabilities is poised to accelerate innovation in wearable technology. This development could drive new use cases in augmented reality, health monitoring, and seamless device integration, enhancing user experiences across personal and professional domains.

For developers and businesses, this signals opportunities to create new applications and services that leverage the advanced hardware capabilities of Apple’s upcoming wearables. Early engagement with these technologies can provide competitive advantages in sectors such as healthcare, enterprise collaboration, and immersive media.

As Apple and Meta compete to define the next generation of smart glasses, the wearable tech landscape is set for rapid evolution. Stakeholders should monitor these developments closely to capitalize on emerging trends and integrate cutting-edge AR and IoT capabilities into their strategies.