EU filings reveal Apple has acquired Sonera, a company developing chip-based magnetic sensors that non-invasively measure brain activity through magnetic fields generated by neural electrical currents. Unlike traditional electrical sensing, Sonera's proprietary technology bypasses the need for direct skin contact, potentially making brain monitoring as accessible as heart rate tracking. A 2023 Sonera press release, first spotted by Mac Rumors, detailed an S1 chip enabling "an entirely new class of consumer wearables and experiences based on muscle activity" and data-backed insights into movement, health, thoughts, and emotions.

The acquisition was disclosed under the EU's Digital Markets Act, which mandates public reporting of certain deals. While Sonera's progress since 2023 remains unclear, the technology aligns with Apple's expanding wearable ambitions and AI integration across products like Apple Watch and AirPods. The magnetic field approach could enable seamless, contactless neural interfaces for health monitoring, accessibility features, or novel interaction paradigms.