Apple's AirPods Pro may get a massive upgrade soon, with one version including infrared cameras and improved AI. Here's what the rumor mill has to say about what's coming and when.
While products like the iPhone and iPad receive yearly upgrades in the form of new models, Apple's approach to audio accessories is somewhat different. The AirPods Pro, for instance, debuted in 2019, but the product didn't receive any meaningful changes until 2022.
2025 saw the arrival of the AirPods Pro 3, which gave the premium earbuds heart rate sensing capabilities, along with improved active noise cancellation. While initial rumors suggested the fourth-generation model would offer built-in cameras as the next major improvement, recent claims suggest a model with incremental upgrades might arrive first.
Leakers and analysts have had a lot to say about Apple's plans for the AirPods Pro line, commenting on the product's release date, features, design, and everything in between.
Apple has been exploring how to add gesture support to AirPods since at least October 2020, when a patent application titled "Wearable Interactive Audio Device" detailed a possible approach using capacitive surfaces.
Similarly, a January 2026 patent application proposed using an RF antenna for gesture recognition, while a June 2025 Apple patent explained how AirPods could read lips with the help of lasers.
Apple's research shows the company has considered multiple ways of enhancing AirPods with gesture recognition. However, the rumor mill has latched on to a specific approach, that being AirPods with cameras.
Rumors of camera-equipped AirPods date back to February 2024, when a generally reliable source claimed Apple had started development on the product in 2023. Supposedly, these low-resolution cameras would feed data into AI, while the AirPods themselves had the codename B798.
In June 2024, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo chimed in, also saying that Apple was working on AirPods with cameras, which were set to arrive in 2026. Kuo went on to reiterate in May 2025 and September 2025 that these camera-equipped AirPods would debut in 2026.
In October 2024, however, the leaker who originally mentioned the B798 codename revealed that AirPods with cameras wouldn't make their way to customers until 2027. In December 2024 and January 2025, they reiterated their claims about AirPods with IR cameras, adding that temperature sensors were also planned.
Then the same source added more detail in March 2025 and October 2025. They claim these new AirPods will use cameras to get data on the surrounding environment that can be used in AI features. For instance, the user might ask where they are, and the AirPods may use signs to determine an approximate location, or a user could be told which way a shop is based on storefront imagery.
This idea previously appeared in an Apple patent application from June 2024. Though not directly related to AirPods, the patent application explores how users might be able to shop or get information about an object or landmark, simply by pointing at things in front of them.
Similarly, a July 2025 Apple patent details how built-in cameras could see use as proximity sensors. This is illustrated through an AirPods optical system capable of recognizing proximity to an object and determining the "type of matter."
Months later, in February 2026, leaker Kosutami claimed that the next generation of AirPods Pro would be able to "see around you," meaning the product would have built-in cameras. The claim is tied specifically to the AirPods Pro line, as are all subsequent claims of camera-equipped AirPods.
Kosutami also claimed the upgraded AirPods Pro would cost about the same as the current AirPods Pro 3. The leaker in question is also a collector of Apple prototypes, having revealed photos of scrapped yellow and pink AirPods variants.
Also in February 2026, the source who revealed the B798 codename in 2024 reiterated that Apple was working on AirPods with cameras. They revealed additional details in May 2026. Going against previous rumors, the leaker claimed Apple's camera-enhanced AirPods Pro would not feature gesture recognition.
Instead, the product would have cameras and Siri to assist the wearer. For instance, the AirPods might provide a recipe based on the ingredients seen in a refrigerator. Design-wise, they said the AirPods with cameras would resemble the current AirPods Pro 3. These claims were reiterated later in May 2026.
Sometime later, in July 2026, the AirPods Pro identifier B790 appeared in an iOS 27 developer beta, and it looked as though the device would feature cameras. However, the B790 codename did not match the B798 identifier revealed previously. The same month, leaker Kosutami claimed Apple had stopped working on camera-enhanced AirPods.
An August 2026 rumor then brought some clarity. Per the report, Apple is working on two new AirPods Pro configurations. Those are the B790, which is expected to be a minor upgrade from the AirPods Pro 3, and the B798, which allegedly features on-board cameras.
Supposedly, Apple will release the B790 first in 2026, with the camera-equipped B798 set to follow in 2027. Multiple leakers agree about what Apple will do with its AirPods Pro line, so we have a good idea of what to expect
As it currently stands, it looks as though Apple will first deliver an AirPods Pro hardware upgrade without cameras. Given that the earbuds won't include IR cameras, and that they'll supposedly resemble the AirPods Pro 3, we'll likely only get minor enhancements.
Apple's AirPods Pro seemingly won't get a major upgrade before 2027.
This could include improved ANC and audio quality, battery life, range, connectivity, and more, though no rumor so far has outlined any of these changes specifically. A temperature sensor is the only rumored change so far. This AirPods Pro model is expected to debut in 2026, but it might be worth skipping altogether.
2027 should see the arrival of AirPods Pro with cameras for AI capabilities. Based on what the rumor mill has to say, these AirPods will help you navigate the world around you, though it remains unclear if the new AirPods Pro will offer gesture support.
In essence, this means Siri will be able to guide you to your destination, help you with tasks involving objects directly near you or around you, and so on. But the AirPods won't be able to take photos or videos for you the way an iPhone can.
Another possible use case is sign language interpretation. Apple already supports Live Translation with iOS 26 and AirPods Pro 3, but adding cameras might allow the wearer to communicate with an individual who relies on sign language.
This would explain Apple's patent regarding lip-reading with lasers. Additionally, Google's Pixel 11 range introduced support for American Sign Language translation in August 2026, so it's not hard to imagine Apple going the same route with AirPods, though this will depend on whether or not gesture support is included.
While Apple's exact approach remains to be seen, it would be a good idea to wait until 2027 before purchasing a new pair of AirPods Pro, assuming you're looking for more powerful AI-enabled earbuds. Price-wise, there shouldn't be any increases with the camera-enhanced AirPods Pro.
