Apple is rumored to be planning to add a new model to its lineup of top-rated AirPods: specifically, AirPods with infrared cameras built in, which can be paired with Vision Pro headphones and create a spatial audio experience that changes as you move your head.
This comes from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is more often than not right when it comes to Apple predictions. However, IR-enabled AirPods won't be available anytime soon, with mass production said to begin in 2026.
It's worth noting that in February, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also reported that Apple was looking at AirPods with cameras. Those are two good sources to back up this rumor, though of course Apple's plans can always change.
According to Kuo, the camera system inside the AirPods will be similar to the technology used for Face ID on the iPhone. It would be enough to detect when someone turns their head, so certain sounds could be increased or decreased accordingly. If you're in a virtual 3D environment, those kinds of audio tricks can be very effective.
What the future might hold
Another thing the cameras could detect is hand gestures, Kuo says. Gestures can already be used for actions within the Vision Pro, but as our review of the Apple Vision Pro shows, there's plenty of room for improvement in this area.
While sales of the Vision Pro don't appear to have been particularly significant, Apple is said to be moving forward with a cheaper model, which coincidentally (or not?) is also said to hit the consumer market sometime in 2026.
When iOS 16 arrived in 2022, it brought with it a custom spatial audio feature for AirPods, which worked with the help of an iPhone for 3D scanning. These immersive experiences seem to be something Apple is particularly interested in.
We will undoubtedly hear more rumors and leaks about AirPods with cameras in the coming months. Meanwhile, the standard AirPods models are also supposed to be updated this year or next, so we can apparently expect the standard fourth-generation AirPods and the Apple AirPods Pro 3 in the not-too-distant future.
