iPhone 18 Pro launching next month, report says Apple AirPods with camera may join it

Apple's purported AirPods with built-in cameras may arrive much sooner than expected. A new report suggests the company could unveil them alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series this September.

In Short

• Apple may launch its first AirPods with built-in cameras this September
• The cameras are expected to power AI features and Visual Intelligence
• The purported AirPods could debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro

Apple is reportedly getting ready to debut one of its most unusual products yet. According to a new report, the company could unveil its first-ever AirPods with built-in cameras as early as September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. While the idea of cameras inside earbuds may sound strange, these cameras are not meant for taking selfies or recording videos. Instead, they are expected to help Apple's AI understand the world around you and answer questions about what you're looking at.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has been working on camera-equipped AirPods for years under the codename B798, which is now expected to launch in 2027. However, Apple has also been developing another version internally, called B790, and this model appears to be much closer to launch.

Gurman says references to the B790 AirPods have already been spotted inside iOS 27, suggesting Apple is actively preparing the product. The company is known for developing multiple versions of the same device before deciding which one reaches the market, and the B790 model is reportedly on Apple's internal roadmap for a debut as early as this year.

Gurman’s claim corroborates developer Sam Henri, who last month also discovered references to the device inside the iOS 27 beta, further adding weight to the speculation.

What will the cameras actually do?

If you're thinking AirPods that can secretly record people, that's not what Apple is building. Earlier reports suggest the tiny cameras are designed to work with Apple's AI features, particularly Visual Intelligence and Siri.

Instead of taking photos, the cameras are expected to act as Siri's "eyes." They will analyse the surroundings in front of you and help answer questions about nearby objects. For example, you could look at a restaurant menu, a plant, or a landmark and ask Siri what it is or get more information without taking out your iPhone.

Apple is also said to be exploring features like smarter navigation, where Siri could recognise landmarks and guide users more naturally, as well as reminders based on objects the cameras detect. Reports suggest the AirPods may feature slightly longer stems to accommodate the cameras and include a small LED indicator that lights up whenever visual data is being processed or sent to the cloud.

While Apple has not confirmed any of these plans, we suggest taking it with a pinch of salt.

- Ends