Apple is working on AirPods with cameras to transmit data to Siri. The new headphones will be Apple’s first AI wearable device, and current rumors suggest they will be released in late 2027.
Design
The AirPods will look like the current AirPods Pro 3, but with cameras built into the stem. Apple also plans to include an indicator light that will light up when visual data from the AirPods is sent to the cloud. The LED will let people around the wearer know that the cameras are in use.
The size, design, and fit are expected to remain largely the same for the earbuds and charging case, save for changes to the stem.
Rumors suggest that Apple will use tiny infrared cameras, similar to the infrared camera used for Face ID.
Features
The AirPods’ cameras will be used to send data about the wearer’s surroundings to Siri, giving Siri more information about where the user is and what’s nearby.
Siri will be able to answer questions about objects or whatever the wearer is looking at. Camera-equipped AirPods could be useful for more precise turn-by-turn directions while walking, pop-up reminders, 3D mapping, and more.
iPhone already has Visual Intelligence, which uses AI to identify plants, animals, landmarks, artwork, books and more. Camera-equipped AirPods will be able to provide data for “visual intelligence” without needing to use the Camera app.
Users will likely not be able to use the cameras to capture photos and videos.
H3 chip
Apple is working on an improved H3 chip and it could make its first appearance in the next AirPods Pro. The H3 chip should bring latency improvements and better audio quality.
Appellation
Early rumors about the camera-equipped AirPods indicated that it wouldn’t be a complete new model and wouldn’t be called AirPods Pro 4, but the launch timeline has since changed. It is now likely that the AirPods will be part of the AirPods Pro range, but the naming is still not defined.
Apple might call them AirPods Pro 4, but AirPods Ultra are also a possibility.
Prices
With the addition of cameras, AirPods could be more expensive than the current AirPods Pro 3 at $249.
Compatibility
Since AirPods will transmit data to Siri, an iPhone with Apple Intelligence support will be required to use the features. Apple Intelligence is available on iPhone 15 Pro and later.
Release date
Rumors suggest that camera-equipped AirPods could be released as early as this year, but the latest information indicates that the new earbuds will launch in late 2027 alongside the 20th anniversary iPhone and a second-generation foldable iPhone.
Apple reportedly needed more time for AirPods to design visual AI models that could identify objects.
Apple is testing the new AirPods with iOS 28, an update that Apple is already developing.
