Apple’s camera-equipped AI AirPods remain on track for 2027 despite video leak
The new earbuds are designed to vault the iPhone maker into the AI wearables market
Apple's camera-equipped AirPods are still on track for a 2027 release, despite a video leak suggesting a possible earlier launch date. The new earbuds, which aim to position Apple in the AI wearables market, were initially planned for a 2026 launch. However, supply chain and software issues delayed the product to 2027, Bloomberg reported in mid-June.
A developer version of a Mac software update contained references to several upcoming Apple products, including the camera-equipped AirPods, first reported by MacRumors. The video corroborated prior reporting from Bloomberg that the AirPods will use Visual Intelligence, a feature utilizing cameras to analyze and interact with real-world objects.
Apple remains confident the earbuds will launch in 2027, as stated by sources familiar with the unannounced product. The camera-equipped AirPods have raised privacy concerns on social media, with some users expressing discomfort over the potential for the device to record or take photos unknowingly. Apple has addressed these concerns by confirming that the cameras will be low-resolution sensors, not designed for photography.
The new AirPods will join other new Apple products in 2027, such as smart glasses, a touch-screen MacBook, a robotic arm home display, and a set-top box.
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