Apple AirPods Pro with cameras canceled according to new leak
According to leaker and prototype collector Kosutami, development of the rumored Apple AirPods Pro with cameras has been discontinued. In a post on X, referencing a June article stating that the product’s case was “closed,” the informant apparently corrected this, clarifying that the project had not been canceled but “suspended.” No further details were provided.
This claim comes as quite a surprise, given that Bloomberg reported in May that the AirPods Pro with cameras were nearing completion and had reached an “advanced” testing stage, suggesting that early mass production could be imminent. However, the report also noted that Apple might delay the AirPods’ launch if the company wasn’t satisfied with the quality of the visual intelligence features for Siri that were under development.
AirPods Pro cameras are only for scanning
The cameras integrated into the AirPods Pro are designed to provide Siri with visual information about the wearer’s surroundings. The cameras are not intended for taking photos or videos, but solely for AI purposes. Kosutami claimed in February that the infrared cameras would connect the AirPods Pro to Apple Intelligence, and other reliable sources have since confirmed this statement. The development of the new AirPods took approximately four years.
Reports indicate that Apple planned to launch the camera-equipped AirPods Pro in the first half of 2026, but the launch was delayed because the smarter AI version of Siri was still under development – although it is included in the current iOS 27 beta, it will only be generally available with the release of iOS 27 in September.
Bloomberg reported that Apple anticipated strong demand for the new AirPods Pro and that its teams, despite challenging circumstances—caused by the industry-wide shortage of memory chips and other silicon components—worked to secure the necessary components for the launch. Whether this is the reason for Kosutami’s claim that the project has been shelved remains unclear.
Kosutami is primarily known as a collector of Apple hardware prototypes, but has occasionally published accurate information about Apple’s future product plans. For example, about ten months before the iPhone 16 Pro‘s market launch, he correctly revealed that it would have a battery housed in a metal casing.
