Apple is accelerating efforts to embed infrared cameras into future AirPods, targeting a 2026–2027 release to deepen integration with its Vision Pro headset and unreleased smart glasses, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The cameras, functioning as environmental sensors rather than photo tools, aim to enable spatial audio personalization, hand-gesture controls, and health tracking—marking AirPods’ evolution from audio accessories to multifunctional wearables.
Infrared sensors target Vision Pro synergy
The redesigned AirPods will incorporate infrared camera modules comparable to Apple’s Face ID system, Kuo confirmed in a June 2024 analysis. When paired with the Vision Pro, these sensors will track head movements to dynamically adjust spatial audio. “If a user turns their head while watching a video, the sound source in that direction is emphasized,” Kuo wrote, enhancing immersion for mixed-reality environments. Gurman’s December 2023 and June 2024 reports add that the cameras could enable “in-air gesture control,” allowing users to scroll menus or adjust volume via hand motions detected by the earbuds.
Apple’s patent filings reveal broader ambitions: a 2020 application describes offloading smart glasses’ camera modules to AirPods to reduce facial wearables’ bulk. Ear-mounted sensors would provide wider environmental data to glasses, while a 2023 internal project (codenamed B796) explores low-resolution cameras for real-time spatial mapping. This aligns with Apple Intelligence’s roadmap—sources note the IR cameras could feed environmental data to on-device AI, enabling context-aware adjustments to Vision Pro’s audio-visual outputs.
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Technical hurdles and production timelines
Kuo estimates mass production could begin by 2026, contingent on overcoming miniaturization challenges. Engineers must shrink camera modules without compromising battery life or ergonomics—a hurdle given AirPods’ 5–6-hour active-use window. Apple’s supply chain is reportedly testing infrared components from existing iPhone Face ID suppliers, though Gurman notes the project remains in “exploratory” stages. Delays could push the launch to late 2027, coinciding with the Vision Pro’s second-generation rollout.
Health tracking and patent-pending features
Beyond cameras, Apple plans to integrate heart rate monitors and temperature sensors into AirPods, requiring users to wear both earbuds for accurate readings, per Gurman’s April 2024 leak. Data would sync to the Apple Health app, positioning AirPods as competitors to fitness trackers. Patent filings detail additional sensors: a 2017 application outlines photoplethysmogram sensors for cardiovascular metrics, while a 2020 iteration describes capacitive sensors to detect hand gestures near a user’s ears. A separate filing proposes workout tracking via motion sensors, though sources confirm these features remain in early testing.
Ecosystem strategy and market pressures
Apple’s wearables team, led by COO Jeff Williams, views AirPods as critical to offsetting slowing iPhone sales. Gurman’s February 2024 newsletter emphasized Apple’s “relentless focus” on making AirPods a bridge between Vision Pro, rumored smart glasses, and iPhones. “The ears are a logical place to add sensors that other devices can’t feasibly house,” he wrote, noting Apple’s 2023 hiring spree for optical engineering experts. Analysts speculate camera-equipped AirPods could retail for $349—$100 above the current AirPods Pro—to reflect their expanded capabilities.
Patent wars
Apple faces pressure to outpace rivals like Meta, which debuted camera-equipped Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023. Patent disputes loom—a 2020 Apple filing for “ear-worn environmental sensors” partially overlaps with a 2018 Amazon patent for gesture-controlled earbuds. Legal experts suggest Apple may license technologies to avoid delays. Meanwhile, supply chain leaks indicate Foxconn will assemble the camera modules, while Sony and LG Innotek vie to supply infrared sensors. Kuo notes Apple has secured “limited component capacity” for late 2026, signaling confidence in the project despite risks.
Featured image credit: Dagny Reese/Unsplash
