AirPods Pro 3 Unlikely to Feature Built-In Cameras

Ming-Chi Kuo dropped a bit of a bombshell this week by suggesting that AirPods won't see major updates until 2026 when infrared camera-equipped models enter production. But before you panic about waiting two more years for new earbuds, there's reason for optimism.

Kuo's timeline likely refers to regular AirPods, not the AirPods Pro line. Well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has suggested AirPods Pro 3 are arriving in 2025, and said they were potentially just "months away" as of February. It's a crucial distinction that could mean we're still on track for upgraded Pros this year.

Otherwise, the camera tech Kuo describes sounds genuinely compelling. The infrared cameras would be similar to Face ID components and could enhance spatial audio experiences with Vision Pro, according to the analyst. The cameras might even enable "in-air gesture control," letting you interact with devices through hand movements alone.

If AirPods Pro 3 do arrive this year as Gurman suggests, don't be shocked if they don't include any camera tech, coming before Kuo's 2026 prediction. For details on the new features we are expecting, check out our AirPods Pro 3 rumor roundup.