AirPods Pro with AI cameras enter “Advanced Testing Stage”
Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods Pro are nearing completion and, according to Bloomberg, are in an advanced testing phase. Design and features are almost finalized, and mass production could begin soon. The AirPods Pro will have integrated cameras that provide Siri with visual information about the wearer’s surroundings. Although the camera stem will be longer in each AirPod, the device is otherwise similar to the AirPods Pro 3.
The cameras cannot take photos or videos and are used solely for AI purposes. A small LED light illuminates when the AirPods send visual information to Siri.
Apple wants to allow users to view objects and ask Siri questions about them – similar to uploading images in chatbot apps. The cameras could also offer reminders based on visual information and provide more detailed directions by capturing the wearer’s surroundings.
The camera app in iOS 27 is also expected to receive a Siri mode that integrates visual intelligence and allows users to, for example, scan nutritional information on food packaging to count calories.
AirPods Pro 3 with cameras in September
Apple had planned to launch the camera-equipped AirPods Pro in the first half of 2026, but the launch is delayed because the smarter, AI-powered version of Siri isn’t yet finished. The new Siri is expected to launch in September with iOS 27, macOS 27, and iPadOS 27, so we can likely expect the new Apple earbuds around the same time.
Apple could also decide to wait to launch if it is not satisfied with the quality of the visual intelligence features planned for Siri.
It’s still unclear how the new AirPods will fit into Apple’s product lineup. Rumors suggest Apple doesn’t plan to market them as AirPods Pro 4. Instead, they could be called AirPods Ultra or perhaps AirPods Pro 3 with cameras.
