Apple's long-rumored camera-equipped AirPods might be closer to reality than recent reports suggested.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company could bring a version to market as soon as this September.
Gurman's latest Power On newsletter reveals that Apple has been working on camera-equipped AirPods under the internal codename B798.
This model was originally planned for 2026 but was pushed to 2027.
A separate version, codenamed B790, appears further along.
References to B790 have already appeared in the second iOS 27 developer beta, and it's on Apple's internal roadmap for a possible release this year.
Earlier this month, a leaker claimed the camera AirPods project had been suspended.
That report likely referred to the more advanced B798 model, while B790 may have avoided the same delays.
Dual-Track Development
Apple often develops multiple internal versions of the same product simultaneously, which explains the parallel efforts.
If the timeline holds, the new AirPods could be unveiled in September alongside the next iPhone lineup.
The cameras won't take regular photos or video.
Instead, they'll act as low-resolution visual sensors to give Siri a better sense of the user's surroundings, enabling features tied to Apple's Visual Intelligence tools.
A small LED indicator would likely light up when the cameras are active, addressing privacy concerns similarly to smart glasses.
Full details are still limited and could change, but the dual-track development suggests Apple is serious about introducing camera-enabled AirPods as part of its broader AI wearables push.
