Apple’s Camera-Enabled AirPods: What We Know

For nearly two years, the tech community has been abuzz with speculation about Apple’s plans to integrate cameras into a future pair of AirPods. While this might sound like a potential invasion of privacy, it appears that Apple’s true intentions are more about enhancing the user experience than creating a smart glasses-like device.

According to recent discoveries, Apple’s camera-enabled AirPods will likely be used by Siri AI to provide more accurate information when the iPhone is not present. This means that users will be able to point their AirPods’ cameras at objects in the real world and ask Siri AI questions about them, much like how smart assistants are depicted in the movie Her.

MacRumors recently uncovered a video file in the Release Candidate for macOS 26.7, which appears to be a demonstration of AirPods running Visual Intelligence on their own. In the video, a man holds up the book ‘Could Should Might Don’t: How We Think About the Future’ by Nick Foster, and a voiceover says: ‘With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later.’

Additionally, MacRumors found a reference to the user setting up Visual Intelligence on these camera-equipped AirPods. If something is blocking the camera on your AirPods, like your hair, you might receive the following message: ‘To get the most accurate information about things in your environment, make sure AirPods are not covered.’

Apple is reportedly calling the upcoming AirPods with cameras ‘B790’ internally. There are multiple references to B790 throughout macOS 26.7’s Release Candidate, indicating the device is nearing launch.

This is not the only unreleased device mentioned in the Release Candidate. MacRumors also found references to Apple’s long-rumored ‘Home Hub,’ ‘Pebble’ (Apple’s upcoming homeOS operating system), iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Ultra (Apple’s foldable smartphone), iPhone Air 2, M6 MacBook Pro, and AirPods Pro 4. This long list of unreleased devices indicates that Apple is gearing up for a huge release schedule this year.

Apple’s Future Plans: What to Expect

Apple may indeed make an entrance into the smart home market with its own hub and operating system and potentially peripherals and accessories like security cameras. This would be a significant move for the tech giant, and we’ll need to wait until next month to see what Apple announces.

For now, we can only speculate about Apple’s plans and what they might mean for the future of technology. One thing is certain, however: Apple’s camera-enabled AirPods are just the beginning of a new era in AI-powered devices.

Key Takeaways:

• Apple’s camera-enabled AirPods will likely be used by Siri AI to provide more accurate information when the iPhone is not present.
• The AirPods will have a camera and will be able to run Visual Intelligence on their own.
• Apple is calling the upcoming AirPods with cameras ‘B790’ internally.
• There are multiple references to B790 throughout macOS 26.7’s Release Candidate, indicating the device is nearing launch.