Synchron Integrates Native Brain-Computer Interface With iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro

Synchron has become the first brain-computer interface (BCI) company to integrate with Apple’s new BCI Human Interface Device (BCI HID) profile.

This achievement marks a major milestone in accessibility and neurotechnology, Synchron bigwigs said, as users implanted with Synchron’s BCI can control iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro directly with their thoughts without the need for physical movement or voice commands.

With the new protocol from Apple—BCI HID—neural interfaces are now formally recognized as a native input category coming to Apple devices. This advancement enables hands-free, voice-free digital access for individuals with motor impairment such as ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injury. Synchron’s BCI system will seamlessly integrate with Apple’s built-in accessibility features, including Switch Control, giving users an intuitive way to use their devices and laying the foundation for a new generation of cognitive input technologies.

“This marks a defining moment for human-device interaction. BCI is more than an accessibility tool, it’s a next-generation interface layer,” Synchron Co-Founder/CEO Dr. Tom Oxley said. “Apple is helping to pioneer a new interface paradigm, where brain signals are formally recognized alongside touch, voice and typing. With BCI recognized as a native input for Apple devices, there are new possibilities for people living with paralysis and beyond.”

Traditional human interface devices (HIDs) like keyboards and mice have historically required physical movement. While touch and voice interfaces have expanded accessibility, they remain limited for people with profound physical impairments. BCI HID eliminates those barriers by translating neural signals, captured by Synchron’s Stentrode implant, into real-time digital commands.

Unlike traditional assistive devices that replicate hardware inputs, a BCI HID can allow bidirectional communication between the BCI and the device. This closed-loop system can exchange contextual information, like screen layout and UI elements to optimize decoding accuracy and user experience.

Related: Synchron Has 1st Use of Brain-Computer Interface with Apple Vision Pro

“When we ask our clinical trial participants what they want to do, it’s always about communication and creativity,” Synchron Chief Commercial Officer Kurt Haggstrom stated. “And to most people, that means using their Apple devices. For Apple to recognize that need, and respond to it, demonstrates how much they value accessibility for their users. It has been an honor to meet with their teams and provide feedback to help make BCI HID a reality.”

Apple’s BCI HID presents an opportunity to break down more barriers and advance accessibility even further, according to Synchron. Working collaboratively within the BCI industry, Synchron aims to achieve a foundation for seamless integration between any BCI system and any device—enabling a unified ecosystem for neural interaction across tech platforms and hardware vendors.

In 2019, Synchron became the first BCI company to clinically test a permanently implantable system. Implanted via the blood vessels, Synchron’s approach avoids open brain surgery, making it the most scalable neural interface technology currently in clinical development.

Native iOS, iPadOS and visionOS integration with Apple devices will offer value to patients in clinical trials while accelerating Synchron’s commercialization path. Controlled rollouts with trial participants using BCI HID-compatible features are expected to begin later this year.

“For people who’ve lost nearly all movement, implantable brain-computer interface technology is a breakthrough full of possibility,” commented Blair Casey, CEO of Team Gleason, which supports people living with ALS in accessing and advancing technology. “This announcement represents a significant advancement in both accessibility and innovation. Apple is not only a global leader in creating accessible products, but in championing new standards for accessibility that improve lives in meaningful ways. This isn’t just about building tools, it’s about redefining what’s possible for people with disabilities.”

Synchron is the category-defining brain-computer interface (BCI) company pioneering implantable neurotechnology designed to restore autonomy and improve lives. Its mission is to bring the first commercially scalable BCI to people with motor impairment. Synchron has completed two human clinical trials since 2019 and is preparing for a larger-scale study. The company’s implantable BCI is now powered by Chiral AI, a proprietary foundation model of cognition. Synchron is headquartered in New York, N.Y.