According to Bloomberg, Apple is developing new AirPods with built-in cameras, aiming to launch them by the end of 2027, and plans to launch them at the same time as the 20th anniversary model of the iPhone and the next-generation folding screen iPhone. This new product is regarded as Apple’s first truly wearable AI product, and its positioning is far more than a wireless headset in the traditional sense.
The report pointed out that although the new AirPods are equipped with cameras, they are not designed to take pictures or record videos, but are used to capture information about the wearer’s surrounding environment and send it to Siri in real time to support more intelligent scene recognition and question-and-answer capabilities. Users can ask Siri questions about objects or scenes they see around them, such as asking what an item is, how to use it, or getting more accurate walking navigation guidance while walking. With the help of ambient visual information, Siri is also expected to provide smarter situational reminders and other functions.
Currently, Apple has provided a similar experience through "Visual Intelligence" in iOS. After users take a photo, they can ask Siri to analyze the content of the picture and give an explanation. In iOS 27, "visual intelligence" is further integrated into the camera application. When users shoot or frame views through the new Siri mode, the system can give feedback directly based on screen information. In the future, AirPods equipped with cameras will expand this capability from "watch after taking a photo" to "real-time recognition."
In terms of appearance, the new AirPods are described as being similar to the existing AirPods Pro 3, but with a camera embedded in the stem. In order to deal with privacy and security concerns, Apple plans to add indicator lights to the body. When the camera is transmitting image data to Siri, bystanders can know through the lights that the device is working, thus improving transparency and trust between the wearer and the people around him.
Previously, multiple sources, including Bloomberg, once said that the camera version of AirPods is expected to be released as early as 2026. However, the latest reports show that due to Apple’s overall advancement in the field of artificial intelligence being less than expected, and the fact that it still takes time to train a sufficiently mature visual recognition model to reliably identify various objects and scenes around the user, the release of this product has been postponed to the end of 2027.
Bloomberg also mentioned that the camera version of AirPods, the 20th anniversary iPhone and the next-generation folding screen iPhone are currently being tested based on iOS 28, but the specific release time "still has variables and may continue to be adjusted." This means that the release schedule of the above-mentioned new products has not yet been completely locked and will still depend on the overall readiness of software and hardware.
In addition to the camera version of AirPods, Apple is also advancing the smart glasses project, and the target time point "may be as early as the end of next year." If things go well, Apple will have the opportunity to launch smart glasses and camera-based AirPods within close to the same time window to build a more complete portfolio of wearable AI devices.