Apple Delays Camera-Equipped AI AirPods to 2027

Apple’s rumored camera-equipped AirPods are designed less as a photography device than as a new source of visual context for artificial intelligence. Low-resolution cameras could give Visual Intelligence and Siri a view of nearby objects, allowing the earbuds to identify items and respond without requiring users to hold up an iPhone. The concept could turn AirPods into a more capable ambient assistant, though privacy safeguards and public acceptance are likely to be central to any launch.

A video found in a macOS beta has provided the first apparent look at the device in use. It shows a user presenting a book cover to an AirPods camera, after which Visual Intelligence recognizes the title and enables an interaction. The footage suggests Apple has reached a demonstrable stage of hardware and software integration. The company has not announced the product, a release date or pricing, and the final design and feature set remain unconfirmed.

Apple is seeking to expand AirPods beyond audio and turn the product into a wearable artificial-intelligence platform. A reported model code-named B790 would add camera hardware and sensors capable of capturing information about a user’s surroundings, supporting the company’s Visual Intelligence features. Such a device could deepen Apple’s push into hands-free, context-aware computing as technology groups compete to define the next major AI hardware category.

Apple is developing the B790 camera-equipped AirPods alongside other products, according to the latest report, with references to the device appearing in iOS code. The software traces suggest work has progressed to integrating the hardware with Apple’s operating system. The earbuds could be unveiled as early as the company’s September 2026 fall event, though Apple has not confirmed the product, its specifications, pricing or a release date.

Apple is extending generative AI beyond smartphones and into wearable devices, with plans for AirPods cameras to recognize their surroundings and Siri to provide visually contextual responses. The year 2027 will also mark the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. A foldable model and an anniversary edition are seen as key to Apple’s efforts to revamp its hardware design and strengthen its lineup of AI devices.

Bloomberg initially reported that Apple planned to launch camera-equipped AirPods by the end of 2027, alongside a foldable iPhone and a 20th-anniversary iPhone. The latest reports, however, indicate that development of the camera-equipped AirPods Pro has been paused. Apple has not formally confirmed the products’ timelines, specifications or pricing, adding uncertainty to the original 2027 launch plan.