Apple Still 'Exploring' New AirPods With Tiny Cameras - MacRumors
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Apple Still 'Exploring' New AirPods With Tiny Cameras

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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
Tag: Mark Gurman
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

sw1tcher Avatar
sw1tcher
19 months 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
turbineseaplane
19 months ago
Are we just throwing darts at random ideas on the wall now?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NT1440 Avatar
NT1440
19 months 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
iMac The Knife
19 months ago
Just what I need, Big Brother spying on everything going on inside my ear. Great!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
ipedro
19 months ago

Did you skip the part of the story where it said they are infrared sensors, not for taking photos? IR isn't going to help with any of those examples.
Did you skip knowledge of infra red signatures?

Aside from the obvious object outlines provided by IR that enables object detection and recognition, it can do this in the dark.

Plants can be identified by both their shape and their heat signature in ways visible light cannot. Moreover, IR can determine the health of the plant, and even whether it needs to be watered or has been overwatered.

Ink on a menu or chalk on a restaurant sign are more easily distinguished and machine readable by infrared in any light conditions, including the low light of a restaurant or no light.

While Colours as we perceive them live in the visible light spectrum, materials reflect different IR signatures in ways that correspond to their visible light wavelength.

Lastly, Ming-Chi Kuo is a supply chain leaker. He rarely (ever?) has the complete picture (pun not intended) of all components. The pursuit of an IR camera for AirPods is one component he's come across. Gurman, whose sources are within Apple itself, has often talked about cameras (plural) on AirPods Pro. In the context of competing with Meta Raybans, it's clear that an RGB camera would be necessary.

If they're not competing directly with Meta RayBans, then IR flood and/or dot projectors could be included to make this a Visual Intelligence device. This too would make sense for Apple focused on privacy. IR cameras could do everything RGB cameras can do in the Visual Intelligence space while preserving privacy by not capturing full images.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
O
oink_oink
19 months ago
Meanwhile, Google is exploring ways to play unskippable ads through their next earpods.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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