If you have been waiting for Apple to release AirPods with built-in cameras, you will need to be patient for a little while longer.
According to a new report from Bloomberg, the launch date has moved to the end of 2027. This is a big change from what was said earlier this year. Back in May, there were reports that Apple was close to finishing work on these new earbuds. At that time, many expected the product to arrive sometime in 2026. But the report also mentioned that Apple might hold off on the release if the AI features did not meet its standards. It looks like the company is taking extra time to get things right.
The new timeline places the launch of these camera-enabled AirPods alongside two other big Apple products. On that case, they will come out at the same time as the company’s second folding iPhone and a special version of the phone to mark its 20th anniversary.
Another piece of information in the report is about privacy. The new AirPods will have small lights on the outside of the stems. These lights will turn on whenever the earbuds are sending information to the internet. This is meant to let people around you know that data is being shared.
So why put cameras in earbuds? The main goal is probably to make Siri smarter. Apple wants to use the cameras to give Siri a better sense of what is happening around you. The company calls this Visual Intelligence. For example, the earbuds could recognise objects or places you are looking at and give you helpful information based on that.
Apple is reportedly looking at other uses for the cameras. These include setting reminders that depend on your location or situation, and giving you step-by-step walking directions through a city. The idea is that the earbuds will use what the cameras see to offer audio guidance in real time.