Apple is coming out with new AirPods in 2026 that are equipped with cameras. But what do you actually get from them?
AirPods will have cameras in 2026
According to a new report According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, new AirPods will be released in 2026, with cameras. This confirms a rumor from Bloomberg that also reported in February about Apple’s plans to develop AirPods with cameras.
But what do you actually need the camera in the earbuds for? According to Kuo, these new AirPods will get an infrared camera similar to the Face ID module on the iPhone and iPad. Apple is also rumored to be integrating the camera-equipped AirPods with the Vision Pro and future Apple Vision headsets.
This is how the new AirPods will work
The camera-equipped AirPods, coming in 2026, will be used to improve spatial audio. The report also states that the cameras on the AirPods will be able to detect changes in the environment, potentially enabling mid-air gesture controls to further enhance interactions.
10 million AirPods per year
Kuo further notes in the report that Foxconn is the new supplier of the cameras that Apple will use in the AirPods. Foxconn reportedly has an annual capacity plan of 18-20 million units, which suggests around 10 million AirPods.
In February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that AirPods with cameras are just one of several new wearable ideas Apple is exploring. The company is also investigating smart glasses that resemble Meta Ray-Bans, a smart ring and a future version of the Apple Watch.
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