Apple AirPods could bring cameras sooner than expected. What we know.
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| Like these, but with a camera. Credit: Adam Doud/Mashable |
Rumor has it that Apple has been hard at work on AirPods with built-in cameras for a while now. But, apparently, they might come out even sooner than expected.
This information comes courtesy of Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter over at Bloomberg. According to Gurman, Apple has been internally testing two versions of AirPods with cameras, one codenamed B798 and another codenamed B790. The former is the one we've known about for a while, but the latter was spotted more recently and is reportedly coming along more quickly, Gurman reported.
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Gurman said references to the B790 model are already appearing in iOS 27 beta code, and Apple could launch the product as soon as this year. Given that there isn't all that much of "this year" left, we could see these new AirPods sooner rather than later. If Apple sticks to its usual schedule, new AirPods could arrive at the September iPhone launch event alongside the iPhone 18; the Apple AirPods Pro 3 were unveiled on Sept. 9, at last year's iPhone 17 launch event.
As for the name, rumors suggest AI-powered AirPods could be launched under a name like AirPods Pro Ultra.
Gurman didn't share any specifics about what makes the B790 different from the other previously reported model, but older news reports about the camera-equipped AirPods suggested Apple is aiming more for a wearable AI assistant than a surveillance or content-creation device. The cameras will not capture photos or videos; rather, they will analyze what they see to support an onboard assistant like, say, the new Siri AI. There would also be a small onboard LED privacy indicator to let other people know the cameras are at work, similar to smart glasses.
Speaking of smart glasses and privacy, Gurman recently reported that Apple may delay the launch of its rumored smart glasses after a backlash to Meta Ray-Ban glasses and inappropriate and harassing behavior by some users.
Presumably, Apple will also keep selling AirPods that are only useful for listening to podcasts and music, too.
https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21/516396015_714284271233791_655536823290250652_n.gif?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=9dcd69&_nc_ohc=POxRcLGyRJEQ7kNvwGp7dXA&_nc_oc=AdqLAwGVY0pTAgLPgeyStpaRACeaZq96uPdTX5El-IUDiDg4t2mRW1xpD6gK3jBPjyDqAB4cjYaccLmk9oIZmeol&_nc_zt=7&_nc_ht=cdn.fbsbx.com&_nc_gid=K86dimcn9-_wzBshpKdvHQ&_nc_ss=7b689&oh=03_Q7cD6AHDVPs9mQljZx791-SK7Esdot_gwItZ9h8CJAp-fmLPAQ&oe=6A792947
ReplyDeletePalantir Pods
ReplyDeletethat is everything!
ReplyDeleteSmh here we go again… 😂 these lies never stop 🛑
ReplyDeleteMore cameras, more data collection, more sh*t to sell back to you.
ReplyDeletehttps://imgur.com/a/CsKk5bg
ReplyDeletehere for this!
ReplyDeletehttps://imgur.com/a/nMzd21V
ReplyDeleteew
ReplyDeleteCrazy we get Air Pod Pros with cameras before GTA6 drops 😂
ReplyDeleteAha love it!
DeleteI am interested what use cases Apple will market for these and how the AI being able to see the world around you can be a benefit outside of Apple Intelligence with on screen awareness.
Also, I wonder how will they tackle the privacy concerns that Meta’s AI glasses have stirred up?
Because I’m happy with Siri AI on my phone and my current AirPods Pro 3 work with it hands free.
Plus IOS 27 so far is looking to be a solid update in terms of stability and optimisation.
Nooo, that ain't creepy at all.
ReplyDeleteRather than taking photos or video, the sensors in Apple's camera AirPods are expected to hand Siri a live view of a wearer's surroundings, tying into existing Visual Intelligence tools.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/29/ios-27-camera-app-siri-mode/
Before everybody freaks out, these are not going to have cameras for recording anything.
DeleteThese will not be the PervPods Pro.
Those are still to come later. 🤣
How is that supposed to make it sound better?
DeleteIf true, it means live random pictures or video are being sent without even pressing record to "hand Siri a live view"
https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYWs2eWo3M3hza290NnZ6enFham9sdndkMWNpZmlhamxiODZycTh5ayZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/aVBcwz1jd28A8/giphy.gif
Perv mode will be hidden the hotcoffee mod of iOS 28
DeleteYeah, the PervPods Pro are set for a 2028 release!
DeleteReally feels like a “solution looking for a problem” to me.
ReplyDeleteYeah I still don’t really get it, but I also haven’t bought AirPods Pro 3 because I’m wondering whether this other product will be compelling.
DeleteYeah some people are really skilled for that!
DeleteI'm curious how they're going to position this and how the general public is going to react. The general sentiment towards Meta glasses and other devices with cameras has soured quickly (justifiably, IMO). Even if these don't have a camera that actually records other people, I suspect people will be dubious and make a big deal about it online.
ReplyDeleteGood points re privacy.
DeleteIn Germany there are many functions in iOS just not available because of privacy. Door cams just outside apartment doors a huge no no and Mercedes not allowing use of their own built-in dash cams even. Photographing any individuals in public..forget about it..it's an offence.
So if they don't record an image for the end user, I can still imagine folks in public will frown upon this, not understanding the tech and the limitations? I don't know. Depends how obvious the camera will be.
I still don't quite understand what the advantage for Siri exactly is?
Part of my own objections is this claims they have “sensors” to tell Siri pf the surroundings, which is pretty vague. Simple proximity sensing would be next to useless unless you are explicitly making an assistive device rather than a mass market consumer product. That leaves us with “image” of some kind for it to be of any use, and even if there isn’t a function to explicitly record or photograph, I’m not cool with any of it streaming to some back end AI “black box.” The privacy issues remain.
DeleteIt's fascinating but not quite knowing how exactly the image is processed or kept on servers, makes it a bit iffy. We really need more info I guess.
DeleteDifferent and old tech but I was fascinated that my old Linksys (now Belkin) mesh routers were able to scan for a moving body. Quite rudimentary but effectively acting as a motion sensor that could alert the user of a home intrusion for a monthly subscription fee.
The eyes of Siri (or Sauron)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to fathom how this could actually aid Siri and the user?
User: Hey Siri, where's the nearest bakery?
Siri: It's just up ahead! I can see it, why can't you??
Disclaimer: Long haired users...pls wear hair up or a pony tail.
I think the application is more accessibility focused. For someone with low or no vision, having AirPods that can describe surroundings could be super helpful for safety and general information.
DeleteNow that's a great use case I never considered. Thank you
DeleteI doubt Apple is implementing this just to cater to a very low percentage of the global population.
DeleteIf that's the case, make the accessibility focused ones bright yellow or something. Make it clear that they're different and always recording. Otherwise I'm going to have to assume that all of them are always recording, and I'm not OK with that.
DeleteApple has hundreds of accessibility features that are specifically aimed at low percentages of the population. They had an entire segment at WWDC about a new feature that allows using the Apple Vision Pro to drive motorized wheelchairs.
DeleteOf course it makes sense for them to market it this way, but Apple didn't get where they are today by catering to approximately .55% of the world's population, in this example.
DeleteOf course. Apple is famous for their products designed for blind people.
DeleteUnsure if your comment was sarcasm or not but, It's really not that far fetched when looking at all assistive and accessibility functionality in iOS or macOS. Matter of fact the hearing aid feature incorporated in APP2 and APP3 is a perfect example of this.
DeleteUse the Hearing Aid feature on your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 - Apple Support
AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 provide a clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature for perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, as well as a Media Assist feature that enhances the clarity of music, video, and calls.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
They quite literally have dozens of accessibility features designed to make their products useable by people with low and no vision. Also, the LOW and no vision part is critical. Not everyone who needs vision accessibility technology is completely blind. Hundreds of millions of people have what is considered to be low vision.
DeleteI think the intent of some of the comments here is to point out that Apple does not set out make assistive devices aimed at the small subset of the population that needs them. Sure, they often add features to facilitate use of their products, but their products are first and foremost, mass market consumer goods.
DeleteI really don’t think most people would object to an occasional encounter with someone wearing a purpose built assistive device using similar technology because their situation justifies its use. But that’s clearly not what we are talking about with consumer products from Apple, Samsung, Meta, etc.
I think the issue is that commenters are thinking about accessibility in a very narrow way. Accessibility isn't strictly about creating a tool that's purpose-built for physically disabled people. The Apple Watch is an accessibility tool, in that one of its key purposes is to give all users access to health information that can and does often inform them about conditions that they weren't aware of—from simple stuff like low step count to major stuff like atrial fibrillation. AirPods with live translation are an accessibility tool because they enable people to communicate across barriers (theoretically). These are things that benefit all users by increasing accessibility to tools and information.
DeleteI don’t disagree with your broader definition of “accessibility” as a concept, and Apple making their consumer devices more accessible is fine. The core issue for me (and perhaps some others), and the reason I choose to make the distinction between purpose built assistive devices and general consumer products, is the trust factor.
DeleteAs I understand it (and I’m no expert) such devices are produced to solve specific problems on behalf of those with applicable conditions/challenges. They are designed from the ground up with that purpose as the primary requirement, and (in the US) they have to meet strict requirements for privacy and security. It is understood they are produced in relatively low numbers, which combined with the requirements they have to meet, makes the devices expensive.
Given where we are with technology today, I have zero reason to trust the companies making general consumer tech products will continue to respect my privacy as a user, or that of those around me if they see a way to make a buck out of it. All they have to do os change the EULA, which they warned us from the start they could change. To me, claims that a device someone is wearing will not allow the user to take pictures or video mean nothing if it is still feeding an AI back end with data about me or my surroundings.
Oh absolutely, not disagreeing with you there at all. Definitely many privacy concerns regardless of the intended use.
DeleteI’ll wait for the AirPods ultra or whatever they call the camera version .
ReplyDeleteLooking for lossless hi-res audio streaming before I need cameras attached to my ears.
ReplyDeleteAnd Siri will be looking with you 😉
DeleteIt should be called 'PervPods'—imagine people at the gym listening to music and filming butts.
ReplyDelete😂😂
DeleteWaiting to see the actual benefit of having this new camera/infrared/LiDAR sensor on AirPods.
ReplyDeleteIt's clearly designed for those young moms who can't quite convince their small kids that they have eyes in the back of their head!
DeleteApple's ultimate flex: "Did you know you can see with your ears?"
ReplyDelete“If you could see what I’ve seen with your ears” - alternate reality Blade Runner
DeleteI've heard things you people wouldn't believe.
DeleteBrown notes off the shoulder of Orion
DeleteAirFlocks
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter if these can actually record anything or save images. Once people catch wind of "cameras" in them, I'm certain it will result in an effective ban on all AirPods in places like locker rooms and such. Not particularly happy here.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about gyms. They even post stuff about photography not being allowed anywhere in the gym. People wear airpods to listen to music and the like. How is this going to work? This gym will ban these airpods? Seems like a bad idea, and as someone who really doesn't care about the camera that much, this seems kind of unnecessary.
DeleteThis is a really overlooked point that I honestly think should make companies not put cameras in earbuds for any reason.
DeleteIt’s opening up such a can of worms
I can see it being implemented in the new Bond movie. “Two goons on your right, 007”.
ReplyDeleteI tend to think this would work more like how your car has cameras and sensors for parking and lane assist. No one complains about privacy there because we all see the advantages.
ReplyDeleteIMO it's more about "private areas in public" like gym locker rooms / hospitals / schools etc. Not ok to be recording or have any type of live camera views accessible.
DeleteMaybe Apple should make these in a distinctly different color than white to identify them as camera-equipped, though likely the color difference might not make a difference with many or most people who might (justifiably) still wonder if someone's white earbuds also have cameras.
DeleteI would imagine cameras to be a huge drain on batteries (which are already limited, especially after a couple years of use).
ReplyDeleteNot just cameras, but presumably some degree of on-device processing, and a constant sending and receiving of data with the host device (presumably an iPhone).
DeleteDon't worry, Anker will come along with a battery pack that attaches to each pod doubling the battery life! 😱
DeletePeople hear “cameras” and they automatically assume video streaming and recording. Which is not necessary to handle proximity awareness processing. The camera sensor could be a low quality sensor, that takes a quick shot every second (or whenever needed) and sends it to your iPhone for processing.
DeleteThe current AirPods have microphones, no one seems to worry about being audio recorded.
What if the camera could be used to detect that you’re dumb-ass is too busy looking at your phone to notice a car coming at you as you’re about to step into the street?
New model of AirPods Pro every year? Yeah ok.
ReplyDeleteProbably intended to be used with the AR glasses as well, similar to the cameras used for hand tracking in Vision Pro.
ReplyDeleteGunna pass on this. Last thing I need is my AirPods texting me about getting my ear hair trimmed for better visibility.
ReplyDeleteWhat about with lasers?
ReplyDeleteOhh who doesn't love a good laser? My brother's BMW has laser headlights but alas, they unfortunately only cut through fog. Cmon BMW...you had LASERS
DeleteSadly, these are only enabled under specific conditions, and here in the US, I think their range is limited compared to Europe. Now, if you shape your BMW into a shark, OTOH …
Deletehttps://imgur.com/a/nPuH44S
Hey! How could you see what I was up to in my lair? Ya got them new AirPodded cameras..ain't ya ?!
Deletehttps://imgur.com/a/kmUDW4M
How is this going to work? Isn't that against the law?—filming people without permission? Someone help me out here...
ReplyDeleteWhilst I applaud Apple trying to grow its stock price via new hardware instead of another service, just no.
ReplyDeleteAirPods ultra starting at 499 yeah I'm sure people are gonna dish out for some camera on a ear piece
ReplyDeleteWTF
ReplyDeletehttps://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExamgwbW5taHBuNjVpcXJwanYyZ21sZzJtOTNvY290cWV5dDdpMDh1YiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/ukGm72ZLZvYfS/giphy.gif
Imagine all of the workplaces that will ban the use of any AirPods because they don't want Apple having cameras in their business.
ReplyDeleteI doubt businesses will delineate between models of AirPods... it'll just be a blanket ban.
Look out for that...bus!
ReplyDelete"Here's what I found on the web for traffic safety..."
Delete“…I can show you on your iPhone.”
Delete"Will they let Siri rate the attractiveness of women I pass in the street and pass that information to me?", asks a Mr M. Zuckerberg from Palo Alto.
ReplyDeleteHow about we stop jamming cameras in every possible location?
ReplyDeleteCould we stop trying to document every bloody thing happening every microsecond everywhere on the planet?
It’s like everybody missed all the memos about a hyper dystopia surveillance state.
Soon the Panopticon will require cameras in literal pans, to see what we're cooking
Delete"Stop Flock Cameras! They're intrusive and spying on us!"
ReplyDeleteAlso...
"Put cameras in my glasses and AirPods!"
I don’t expect them, so any day is sooner than expected.
ReplyDeleteThese will be a hard pass for me. Besides, I have a pair of APP 2 and 3, and I still find the APP 2 to be the more comfortable of the two.
ReplyDeleteI have APP2, bought some Comply premium foam tips and they were great until they compressed and loosened way too much. That's where I wished larger sized silicon tips were available as the APP3 offers.
DeleteCome to think of it, with the Comply tips the seal test results were never 100% even new vs the Apple tips.
The hot takes in these threads are always so weak. Like paint them bright yellow so we all know who the people who use them because they have limited vision are. How about people with sensory limitations and some similar issues just live their lives without having to wear a scarlet letter to make others happy?
ReplyDeleteMR always uses a scare headline with these stories, though these sensors are not for recording videos or taking photos. But they know exactly what everyone thinks when they simply use the word "camera" without context in a headline, and they know people are gonna rage post and not read to the fifth paragraph of a six-paragraph story.
clicks/posts are $$$ aka income for MR, I'm ok with that.
ReplyDeleteAnd this rumored AirPods went from cameras to IR cameras and now back to cameras ... and it is all Gurman based (as far as I remember Kup talked about IR sensors ,not even using the work camera). So that's the other twist as clicks also mean $$$ for Gurman.
We'll just have to wait and see what Apple actually announce and describes as use cases ... but that requires patience and then fact discussion ...
And keep in mind that some of these "rumors" are planted by Apple to Gurman to test the water ...
But what about those of us with big hair?
ReplyDeleteGurman doesn't know.
ReplyDeleteB798 is probably the second generation of the AirPods Ultra or whatever it will be called.
ReplyDeleteLast rumor we heard (on MacRumors, of all places) was that Apple had dropped their plans to put IR cameras into an AirPods model. Seems some rumors aren't what they're claimed to be.
ReplyDeleteWhat a truly stupid idea.
ReplyDeleteThe level of privacy that we have as people is slowly dwindling down to nothing. At some point we need to reassess and ask is this necessary? What problem is Apple trying to solve by placing cameras in AirPods? Is this a problem that I have and need this type of device to solve it? As much as Apple touts privacy, this update is not trending that way.
ReplyDeleteI could have sworn not a month ago there were posts on this site about this product being cancelled outright.
ReplyDeleteGreat times for creeps ahead.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the lawsuits when someone walks into a gym locker rooms with these things on. Apple will have a hard time proving they didn't take video/audio of nude people and send them to their data center. Even if there is no malicious intent, Apple sending video of nudes people to their own data center to process those images will cewrtainly violate some statutes in most states. If there is a data leak at some point it will get really expensive.
ReplyDelete