Apple has acquired Sonera, a California-based technology company specializing in non-invasive sensors for measuring neural signals from the brain. The technology allows for monitoring muscle states and the active control of electronic devices through thought, without the need for surgical implants.
Sonera was founded in 2018 by Nishita Deka and Dominic Labanowski while they were students at the University of California, Berkeley. The company originally operated as Sonera Magnetics and emerged from stealth mode in 2023, securing $11 million in funding.
The company's first product, the S1 chip, is designed for muscle sensing. It records magnetic activity signals generated by the brain and can be used to control prosthetic limbs or integrated into consumer wearable devices.
According to EU acquisition databases, the deal was completed in May 2026. Neither Apple nor Sonera has officially announced the transaction, and the Sonera website is currently offline.