Qualcomm has presented the AR1+ Gen 1 chip, which is designed to enable AI features to be executed more efficiently and locally on smart glasses.
With the Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1, Qualcomm presents a new chip for AI glasses that is designed to improve image quality, energy efficiency and local language model processing. Initial demonstrations were run on prototype glasses with Meta software.
AI functions directly on the glasses
Qualcomm presented the next expansion stage of its AR1 platform at Augmented World Expo 2025. The new Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 was specially developed for smart glasses with an integrated display and, according to the manufacturer, is more compact and economical than its predecessor.
The key feature is the integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which can run small language models directly on the device - without a connection to a smartphone or server. Qualcomm demonstrated this with a prototype pair of glasses running Meta's Llama-3.2-1B language model, which is suitable for simple AI assistance, visual recognition and local translations.
The chip therefore supports precisely those AI functions that Meta introduced in the Ray-Ban smart glasses in Germany in April. Meta is still relying on the AR1 Gen 1 chip for the current generation of devices. According to media reports, however, the company is planning a new, higher-quality pair of glasses with a monocular HUD for the end of 2025, which is being developed under the codename "Hypernova" and could use the AR1+ Gen 1 for the first time. Whether and when Meta or other manufacturers will install the chip in series products remains open for the time being - Qualcomm did not name any specific partners at the presentation.
Improved energy efficiency, camera and audio technology
The AR1+ Gen 1 supports both single-sided and double-sided displays with a resolution of up to 1,280 × 1,280 pixels per eye at 60 Hz. According to Qualcomm, the field of vision is of course limited, but 3DoF (three degrees of freedom) and depth perception should make the display more comfortable. The image output is suitable for notifications, navigation and simple AI interactions.
Integrated Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3/5.2 enable wireless communication with playback devices such as smartphones to stream or share content from the glasses. According to Qualcomm, the AR1+ Gen 1 is 7 percent more energy efficient and 26 percent smaller than its predecessor. Active power management is intended to reduce heat development and power consumption, which should suit compact smart glasses with little space for large batteries and ventilation systems.
The AR1+ Gen 1 is also designed to improve photos and videos. The image processing units have been optimized for 12-megapixel photos and 6-megapixel videos, as have the image stabilization and light sensitivity. HDR is also supported. On the audio side, the chip should be able to control up to eight microphones and ensure clearer voice recordings with integrated noise suppression.
(joe)
