{"slug": "apples-latest-acquisition-is-about-technology-that-sounds-futuristic", "title": "Apple’s latest acquisition is about technology that sounds futuristic", "summary": "Apple has acquired Sonera, a company developing a chip-based magnetic sensor that non-invasively measures magnetic fields from neural activity, according to EU filings under the Digital Markets Act. The technology could enable new wearable devices that read brain activity without direct skin contact, potentially enhancing Apple's AI-powered wearables.", "body_md": "EU filings [revealed today](https://digital-markets-act-cases.ec.europa.eu/acquisitions) that Apple has acquired a company called Sonera, makers of wearable-centered technology that sounds like it’s from the future.\n\n## Apple acquires Sonera, whose technology reads brain activity by measuring magnetic fields\n\nApple is a secretive company that often doesn’t disclose its acquisitions. But under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, certain acquisitions have to be disclosed publicly on the [EU’s website](https://digital-markets-act-cases.ec.europa.eu/acquisitions).\n\nToday the latest addition to that site is Sonera, a company that “is developing a chip-based magnetic sensor.”\n\nHere are more details, per a Sonera [press release](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230912431509/en/Sonera-Introduces-Breakthrough-Sensing-Technology-to-Make-Neural-Data-More-Accessible) from 2023:\n\nSonera has developed a new sensing modality that non-invasively measures magnetic fields generated by the body, in contrast with the electrical sensing techniques commonly used today. This proprietary technology holds the key to making brain activity as easy to measure as heart rate, temperature, and other physiological signals, and enabling data-backed insights related to movement, health, thoughts, and emotions.\n\nThe press release, first [discovered by *MacRumors*](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/08/apple-acquires-sonera/), mentions an S1 chip which could “enable an entirely new class of consumer wearables and experiences based on muscle activity.” \n\nSonera’s proprietary approach “measures magnetic fields produced by the electrical currents from neural activity” and thus bypasses the need for direct skin contact.\n\nIt’s unclear how much progress Sonera has been able to make since that 2023 press release. But clearly, Apple found something of value in their technology.\n\nThe ability to read brain activity through measuring magnetic fields sounds like it could be the premise for a new Apple TV sci-fi series. But it’s easy to see lots of potential as Apple pushes further into wearables, and enhances its wearable products with AI.\n\nWhat do you think Apple might use Sonera’s technology for? Let us know in the comments.\n\n***Buy iPhone with 15% discount from Apple refurbished**\n\n### Best iPhone accessories\n\n*FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.* [More.](https://9to5mac.com/about/#affiliate)\n\n[our homepage](http://9to5mac.com/)for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on\n\n[exclusive stories](https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/),\n\n[reviews](https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/),\n\n[how-tos](https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/), and\n\n[subscribe to our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-latest-acquisition-is-about-technology-that-sounds-futuristic", "canonical_source": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/08/apples-latest-acquisition-is-about-technology-that-sounds-futuristic/", "published_at": "2026-09-08 14:55:55+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-09-08 15:26:05.023582+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-products", "ai-infrastructure"], "entities": ["Apple", "Sonera", "EU", "MacRumors"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-latest-acquisition-is-about-technology-that-sounds-futuristic", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-latest-acquisition-is-about-technology-that-sounds-futuristic.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-latest-acquisition-is-about-technology-that-sounds-futuristic.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-latest-acquisition-is-about-technology-that-sounds-futuristic.jsonld"}}