Spare the discussion on AirPods sporting cameras—at least for the moment.
The lingering question that refuses to leave my mind is about the AirPods Pro 3, and it's not just their release date.
Rumors have been swirling about potential new features, but one of the most contentious topics is whether these new buds will sport built-in cameras.
The general sentiment seems to be, if the AirPods Pro 3 do show up by September, they'll resemble the current AirPods Pro 2 in shape but will boast improved battery life, better audio performance, and enhanced health sensors.
However, a curious discovery in iOS 26's Settings app has sparked debate. 9to5Mac noticed that the AirPods' 'Remote Control' option is found in a new AirPods menu titled 'Camera Control.' With only this option in the menu, its name seems rather noteworthy.
To me, the oddity of a single-option menu suggests additional controls are on the horizon, not that the AirPods will be packing camera technology in the near future.
Apple has indeed hinted at this possibility by announcing at WWDC that users will be able to start recording video from AirPods using the new iOS 26 software.
However, the fact that this is even up for discussion highlights that some still believe Apple may launch headphones with built-in cameras this year.
The majority of these 'facts' come from predictions, albeit from reputable experts.
So, are we expecting camera-equipped AirPods? The likelihood seems slim, given a multitude of reasons.
Firstly, miniaturizing a camera and integrating it into an earbud comes with design challenges. This includes power consumption, heat issues, and making the components small enough without skyrocketing costs. Add to that the problem of hair getting in the way.
Then there are privacy concerns. Take, for example, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that have an LED light to indicate recording. How would something similar appear on an earbud? Even if there was a light, it would be difficult to see twinkling away on the side of the head.
Most rumors point towards Apple focusing on using infrared (IR) cameras inside the AirPods instead. This would allow the headphones to better understand their surroundings and provide more immersive sound playback when used with the Vision Pro.
The miniaturization and hair-related issues are still present with IR technology, but they wouldn't be as severe as Apple already has extensive experience with IR emitters thanks to the presence of the Face ID camera on iPhones.
IR tech in headphones could potentially also enable gesture technology, similar to that already used in the Vision Pro. While waving your hands in the air to control your mobile device may sound ridiculous, it's a concept worth considering, especially as it could make tasks like changing tracks effortless.
So, when can we expect Apple to deploy this technology? Given the numerous hurdles that need to be overcome, it seems unlikely that we'll see camera-enabled AirPods this year, even if they are 'only' IR.
A more plausible scenario is that the new AirPods Pro - whether that's Pro 3 or Pro 4 - are launched with a refined Vision Pro headset, complementing each other and providing a great opportunity for upselling.
Given that the new Vision Pro is tipped for 2026 at the earliest, according to noted analyst Mark Gurman, it would make sense that we don't see the IR-enhanced AirPods Pro until then.
This year, then, we're probably not expecting any major upgrades to the AirPods Pro. But who knows? We might see someone from the AirPods team on stage, unveiling the 'third generation of AirPods, now with full cameras for enhanced Apple Intelligence...'
Insights:
- Recent discoveries in iOS 26's Settings app suggest potential controls for cameras in the new AirPods, but not necessarily that they'll include built-in cameras[1].
- Experts predict the integration of infrared cameras into future AirPods, but this technology is not expected in the AirPods Pro 3 released in 2023[2].
- Some analysts suggest that camera-equipped AirPods may not appear until 2026 or beyond, when they could be launched alongside an upgraded Vision Pro[3].
[1] - 9to5Mac[2] - Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu[3] - Jeff Pu
- The discovery of a single-option 'Camera Control' menu in iOS 26's Settings app has sparked debate about whether the AirPods Pro 3 will sport built-in cameras, but the oddity of the menu suggests additional controls might be on the horizon, not necessarily camera technology.
- Despite rumors pointing towards Apple integrating infrared cameras into future AirPods, reputable experts predict that camera-equipped AirPods might not appear until 2026 or beyond, potentially being launched alongside an upgraded Vision Pro.
