Apple is developing AirPods with cameras, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. Apparently, the company is focusing on it being able to help you understand your environment better.
Apple is reportedly aiming to have Visual Intelligence integration into its AirPods in a similar manner to its integration into the iPhone 16 series via Camera Control. With the feature, the user experience will be similar to using smart glasses, where wearers will be able to ask Siri about their surroundings without having to take out their phones.
Known Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, also stated that the cameras could be used to integrate the earbuds with other products. Specifically, they could be used to improve spatial awareness while listening to audio with Apple Vision Pro. The upcoming earbuds are expected to be paired with future Apple headsets as well, enhancing the spatial audio and strengthening the spatial computing ecosystem. Additionally, these cameras could enable “in-air gesture control” for the wireless earphones.
According to Bloomberg, this tech won’t be spotted until 2027 at the earliest, most probably alongside the AirPods Pro 4. Kuo adds that mass-production of the devices is targeted to start sometime in 2026.
(Sources: Bloomberg via 9to5Mac, Ming-Chi Kuo via Medium)
Manisha Dharmendra contributed to this article.
