Apple's Camera Equipped AirPods and Apple Watch Could Launch as Soon as 2027

Apple is working on versions of the AirPods and Apple Watch that incorporate a camera, and the devices could be ready to launch sometime around 2027, reports Bloomberg.

airpods pro purple
Apple has developed a chip codenamed "Nevis" that will be used for its camera-equipped Apple Watch, while a chip codenamed "Glennie" will be incorporated into the AirPods. Apple is aiming to have the chips ready "by around 2027," and if the chips are available early enough in the year, we could see a launch that same year.

Last year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple wants to incorporate infrared cameras into the AirPods to provide an enhanced spatial audio experience with the Vision Pro and future devices, plus cameras could also potentially support in-air gesture control, identifying hand movements. Gurman has suggested that Apple is considering cameras that would "feed data to AI."

As for the Apple Watch, a future model could incorporate a camera in the screen area, while an upcoming version of the Apple Watch Ultra could have a camera near the Digital Crown. The cameras would enable Visual Intelligence features to allow users to get information about their surroundings and more tailored directions.

The cameras destined for the Apple Watch and AirPods won't likely be used for things like capturing photos or FaceTime, but would instead provide visual data for on-device AI features.

Related Forums: AirPods, Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

Jumpthesnark Avatar
6 hours ago at 10:21 am
MR doesn't mention until the third paragraph, and not at all in the headline, that they would be infrared cameras. And saves for the final paragraph that the cameras aren't for taking photos, FaceTime videos, etc. Why not call them infrared sensors for clarity, MR?

So here come the comments from people who are outraged at the privacy concerns because they think these are cameras that work like iPhone cameras to capture photos and videos. Yay clicks!
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mcfrazieriv Avatar
6 hours ago at 10:37 am
These are sensors...

Apple put sensors in the beats headphones for heart rate. And made the actual audio worse.

What do you think they'll do here?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B-Mc-C Avatar
6 hours ago at 10:38 am
The new AirPods will be able to capture photos of the inner ear in never-before-seen levels of detail!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DocMultimedia Avatar
6 hours ago at 10:43 am
Every single rumor just constantly puts all products two years away. Hopefully my HomePad with a camera comes out before 2027 since I don't wear earpods. ?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
stocklen Avatar
6 hours ago at 10:46 am
ooooh, another 2 year away product.

I dont know about everyone else but time to start counting sleeps now.

Perhaps they will auto-pair with the Matel Hoverboard and self-drying coats that are doe 'in a couple of years' too.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maxfromdenmark Avatar
6 hours ago at 10:51 am
Breaking news! The new AirPods coming out in 2027 allegedly the date has been planned to release new products together with Apple Intelligence is expected to be ready for going out
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)