Apple has a long history of developing its own chips to lessen its dependency on third parties, and the company has done it again by introducing its new N1 networking chip. This chip is key to Apple’s new SPR AVS protocol, which will be able to work alongside (or completely replace) Bluetooth audio when it rolls out in the future.
“SPR AVS stands for Spatial Relay Audio-Visual Sync, and it’s engineered to replace or augment legacy protocols like Bluetooth and AirPlay in specific contexts,” reports Patently Apple, adding that it is “enabling ultra-low latency and high-bandwidth communication between iPhones, AirPods, Vision Pro, and other Apple devices.”
Patently Apple reports that the new protocol provides lossless, delay-free audio. SPR AVS is designed to be able to sync directly between multiple devices without going through a third party such as a router, which would introduce delay. While details about the protocol are still emerging, it is possible that it will be coming to a host of new Apple devices.
According to a report from Bloomberg, the N1 chip will be integrated into upcoming HomePod, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV products, making SPR AVS all but a guaranteed feature in those devices.
