Apple’s first camera-equipped AirPods could launch before the year is out, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. The AirPods will be AI-focused, with built-in camera sensors to analyze the surrounding world.
Gurman‘s comments came in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter. Gurman went on to says the new AirPods were just one part of a three-prong strategy, that also includes smart glasses and a wearable pendant.
Apple has reportedly been working on the camera AirPods under the code name B798. While Apple had hopes for a 2026 release, it has been postponed until 2027, according to Gurman. However, Apple has also been working on another version of AirPods under the code name B790, which appears to be further along, as references to the product have been discovered inside iOS 27 code, and Gurman says it’s been on Apple’s internal road map for a debut as early as this year.
The cameras in the new camera-equipped AirPods won’t be used to capture photos or videos, but will instead be designed to provide Siri a live view of a wearer’s surroundings, allowing it to tie into Apple’s Visual Intelligence tools.
Any new camera-equipped AirPods are expected to cost more than the current $249 that Apple charges for the AirPods Pro 3.
