Apple has been working on a lot of AI products lately, and it looks like one of them might be closer to your ears than you’d expect. According to a new Bloomberg report from Mark Gurman, the company’s camera-equipped AirPods have entered the design validation testing stage of development. Prototypes now have a near-final design and feature set, which is a significant step toward production for what could become the AirPods Ultra cameras, Apple’s first real shot at an AI wearable.
Both earbuds will have a camera built into each stem. The stems will be slightly longer than the current AirPods Pro 3 to make room, though the overall look stays pretty similar. A small LED will light up when the earbuds are sending visual data to the cloud. The cameras won’t take photos or video. They’re purely there to act as eyes for Siri, feeding low-resolution environmental data so you can point your gaze at something and ask a question about it.
What These Cameras Are Actually For
The use cases Bloomberg describes are practical. You could look at ingredients on your counter and ask what to make for dinner. You could get turn-by-turn directions that reference actual landmarks you’re walking past. Or you could get a reminder triggered by something you’re physically looking at. It’s similar to Visual Intelligence on the iPhone, just without pulling your phone out.
Apple reportedly wanted to launch these in the first half of 2026. Unfortunately, a long-running Siri overhaul kept pushing things back. The smarter version of Siri these earbuds depend on is now tied to iOS 27, expected this fall. A September launch is possible, but only if Apple is satisfied with how the AI features actually perform before shipping. The AirPods Ultra cameras have reportedly been in development for four years. Apple is said to be expecting strong demand once they do arrive.
Pricing is expected to land around $299, about $50 more than the current AirPods Pro 3. The “Ultra” name isn’t confirmed yet, but Gurman has floated it as the most likely branding.
