Apple is ramping up its hardware innovations by developing custom chips for upcoming devices. These new processors are aimed at powering smart glasses, AI-ready servers, and fresh Mac models—all designed to make your tech experience more streamlined.
The smart glasses chip, a rework of the low-power components found in the Apple Watch, will let you use voice commands, snap photos, and enjoy audio playback. While it won’t deliver full augmented reality straight away, it’s a smart step towards mixing digital features with the real world.
Production could kick off as early as late 2026 or early 2027, meaning you might see these devices on the market within a couple of years. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a long-time partner of Apple, is expected to build these chips.
While Meta is already making waves with its Ray-Ban smart glasses, Apple appears to be starting with non-AR models—codenamed N401 (formerly N50)—that combine cameras and AI to enhance user interaction until the software fully catches up. If you’ve ever wished your devices could intuit your needs better, this could be just the nudge forward you’ve been waiting for.
Apple isn’t stopping at glasses. The tech giant is also exploring ways to integrate cameras into its AirPods and Apple Watch (codenamed “Nevis”), with both expected around 2027. Meanwhile, new processors for Macs—including the M6 (Komodo) and M7 (Borneo), along with a premium chip dubbed “Sotra”—are in the pipeline. Updates to the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro with the M5 chip are also on the horizon later this year.
All of these projects highlight Apple’s commitment to a fully integrated hardware ecosystem, a vision led by hardware chief Johny Srouji. With the recent launch of its first custom modem chip in the iPhone 16e and plans for an upgraded version in 2026, Apple is clearly setting the stage for a future where every component is designed to work seamlessly together.
