In the new “Power On” newsletter from Bloomberg, Mark Gurman says the rumored AirPods Pro with built-in cameras won’t arrive until next year, but we’ll still get updated AirPod Pros this year.
The upgrade will likely be an enhanced version of the current models, but without any major design changes.
From Gurman’s report: For years, Apple has been working on the camera AirPods under the code name B798. This device was initially scheduled for release in 2026 before being postponed until 2027, I’ve reported. But Apple has also been developing another version under the code name B790 (Apple famously creates competing versions of the same product internally).
This B790 device also appears to be further along: References to the product have already shown up inside iOS 27 code, and it’s been on Apple’s internal road map for a debut as early as this year.
However, many reports have claimed we’ll see camera-equipped AirPods Pro this year. The next update will sport cameras to see around a user, according to the leaker known as “Kosutami” — as noted by MacRumors.
He/she said the next generation of the earbuds will be available at the same US$249 price as the current model. This contrasts with previous rumors suggesting that the next AirPods Pro would be a secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year.
Also noted by MacRumors: the Chinese leaker known as “Instant Digital” corroborated the rumors about new AirPods Pro featuring infrared cameras for gesture controls. However, she/she says that rather than being a new generation, the 2026 AirPods Pro will apparently be a pricier, high-end variant of the AirPods Pro 3 introduced in 2025, suggesting that both models will ultimately be on sale alongside each other.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said that Apple is developer two tiers of the AirPods 5. He says the company is working on the next generation of its H3 chip for wireless audio. It would reportedly offer improved sound quality and lower latency.
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