Apple may have accidentally given everyone an early look at its strangest AirPods yet, but the actual wait hasn’t changed. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple’s camera-equipped AI AirPods remain on track for 2027, despite a leaked video from a developer version of macOS showing the earbuds in action
The leak made them look closer than they are
The leaked video appeared earlier this week inside a macOS update and showed the upcoming AirPods working with Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature. The technology uses the earbuds’ cameras to understand what’s happening around the wearer and provide that visual context to Siri and other AI features. The leak understandably sparked speculation that Apple might be preparing to unveil the earbuds at its upcoming September event.
Apparently, not so fast. Gurman says the product is still off Apple’s 2026 release schedule, with supply-chain and software problems having already pushed it from its original 2026 plan into 2027. Apple employees had reportedly begun advanced testing earlier this year before those problems emerged.
They’re cameras, yes, but not really “camera” cameras
One of the more interesting details is that the tiny cameras aren’t expected to function like conventional cameras. According to Gurman’s sources, they will use low-resolution sensors designed to scan the surrounding environment, rather than capture traditional photos or videos. The idea is to give Siri and Apple’s AI features another way to understand what the user is seeing.
That could make the AirPods considerably more useful as an AI wearable, but it also introduces an obvious privacy headache. The idea of earbuds quietly looking at the world around their wearer has already raised concerns online, particularly over whether other people could be captured without knowing it. Apple is reportedly conscious of the issue, especially after the privacy controversy surrounding Meta’s camera-equipped smart glasses.
It’s also worth noting that Apple has reportedly developed two versions of its camera-equipped AirPods, with the leaked video showing the B790 model based on the AirPods Pro 3, while another version, B798, is a newer AirPods Pro generation with cameras and AI. If Apple sticks to its current plans, the earbuds will arrive in 2027 alongside a packed lineup that could include its first smart glasses, a camera-equipped wearable pendant, a foldable iPhone, and an AI-focused smart home display.
So while the leaked video confirms the camera AirPods are real, don’t expect them to show up anytime soon: 2027 is still the year Apple’s earbuds apparently get eyes.
