Apple Still 'Exploring' New AirPods With Tiny Cameras

Apple continues to explore the idea of releasing camera-equipped AirPods in the future, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

airpods pro purple
Gurman only briefly mentioned the possibility of AirPods gaining tiny cameras, as part of his Power On newsletter intro this week, focused on Apple's future wearables ambitions. He did not explain what the cameras would be used for.

The tiny cameras would not be for taking photos, but rather serve as infrared sensors.

In a June 2024 blog post, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple planned to mass produce new AirPods with infrared cameras by 2026. He said the infrared camera component would be similar to the iPhone's Face ID receiver.

Kuo said the new AirPods with infrared cameras would provide an enhanced spatial audio experience with the Apple Vision Pro headset.

"For example, when a user is watching a video with Vision Pro and wearing this new AirPods, if users turn their heads to look in a specific direction, the sound source in that direction can be emphasized to enhance the spatial audio/computing experience," wrote Kuo.

The infrared cameras could potentially enable "in-air gesture control" as well, allowing for device interaction with hand movements.

If the alleged 2026 mass production timeframe remains on schedule, the new AirPods with infrared cameras could launch in 2026 or 2027.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

sw1tcher Avatar
9 weeks ago

Apple continues to explore the idea of releasing camera-equipped AirPods in the future
Apple moving further into medical devices. These will notify you if you have too much ear wax build up
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
9 weeks ago
Are we just throwing darts at random ideas on the wall now?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NT1440 Avatar
9 weeks ago
Guys, the point of the IR cameras is related to blood flow (pulse) and/or oxygen readings. Idk where some of you are thinking it’s going to do proximity sensing facing externally or taking pictures…
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iMac The Knife Avatar
9 weeks ago
Just what I need, Big Brother spying on everything going on inside my ear. Great!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oink_oink Avatar
9 weeks ago
Meanwhile, Google is exploring ways to play unskippable ads through their next earpods.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Quu Avatar
9 weeks ago
Introducing EarVision™ for when you need to know when you have a waxy build up. I kid of course, having hand gesture support would be interesting.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)