For years, camera-equipped AirPods were just a rumor, most recently even considered a supposedly canceled project. Now, a finished promotional video is included in software that Apple itself has distributed to developers. A man holds up a book, and the earbuds recognize the title.
A video file embedded in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate shows Apple's camera-enabled AirPods in action. MacRumors discovered the clip in the pre-release version released on August 17th. The video demonstrates Visual Intelligence: a user looks at a book, and the voice output explains that what they see can be saved for future reference. This gives concrete form to a product that previously existed only through leaks and analyst reports, and whose status was determined by months of compiling rumors about the AirPods Ultra.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate includes a demo video showing AirPods with camera in conjunction with Visual Intelligence.
- The cameras themselves are not visible in the clip; the stem of the earbuds appears slightly thicker than on the current model.
- The same code mentions the internal name B790 multiple times, including in an error message for an image data stream.
- A warning message cautions against covering the earbuds – for example with hair – because otherwise the environmental perception will be impaired.
- Siri AI is missing on iPhone and iPad in Germany and Austria, but is available on Mac and Vision Pro – Switzerland is not affected by the block at all.
What can be seen in the clip
The scene is short and looks like a finished product video, not a developer placeholder. A man with earphones holds a book so the camera can capture the title. The accompanying voiceover describes Visual Intelligence as a feature that makes what is seen storable and can be saved for later on command.
The cameras are not visible in the image. The earbuds closely resemble the current AirPods Pro; the only noticeable difference is the slightly thicker stem. Aaron Perris, who writes for MacRumors, also published the file on X.
Here is your first look at AirPods with Cameras in action using Visual Intelligence.
— Aaron (@aaronp613) August 18, 2026
This video file came from macOS 26.7 RC pic.twitter.com/yo7RI4MCeu
A second finding concerns everyday usability. If the earbuds are covered, for example by hair, the system indicates that the recognition of the environment is impaired – a detail that seems more fitting for a device about to be released than for a laboratory project.
B790 appears multiple times in the code
The release candidate mentions the internal name B790 more than once. MacRumors found references in the same version to a whole range of unreleased devices, including home accessories, upcoming Macs, and iPhone models. For the camera earbuds, there is, among other things, an error message concerning the initiation of an image data stream for the left earbud.
B790 is not the same as B798. The second designation refers to a separate camera project, which, according to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, is not expected to launch until 2027. Both projects are running in parallel, and this duplication explains some of the conflicting reports of recent months.
From reported project halt to finished commercial
The reporting on the camera-equipped AirPods was anything but straightforward. At the beginning of May, development was considered to be well advanced, at the beginning of July a prototype collector reported the opposite, and at the beginning of August Gurman attributed both to two different products.
| Date | Status of the report |
|---|---|
| May 7, 2026 | Development reaches a crucial testing phase |
| July 3, 2026 | A leaker reports a development halt. |
| August 2, 2026 | Two parallel variants, B790 still for this year |
| August 17, 2026 | Demo video and code references in the macOS release candidate |
Monday's discovery contradicts the halt announcement, at least for the B790. A company wouldn't include a fully recorded product video in software that's about to be rolled out to all users if the device is then put on hold. The July report was based on a single, unconfirmed source – this was noted in the article at the time and remains the more likely error.
The EU ban affects the iPhone, not necessarily the earbuds
The feature shown is linked to Siri AI, and there's a dividing line running right through Europe. Apple stated in a press release on June 8th that Siri AI will not launch in the EU with iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. The enhanced visual intelligence experience is explicitly included in the list of features EU users will miss out on. Further background information can be found in the overview of the DMA dispute surrounding Siri AI.
The crucial point is the second part of the same announcement: EU users will indeed receive Siri AI on macOS 27 and visionOS 27. Only the Apple Watch is excluded, and Apple gives a specific reason for this – Siri AI on watchOS 27 requires a paired iPhone with Siri AI.
This dependency doesn't exist with AirPods. They aren't tied to an iPhone, but to an Apple account: Apple lists iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro equally in its instructions for switching AirPods devices. Anyone using the earbuds with a Mac or Vision Pro is working with a system where Siri AI is available in the EU.
It remains unclear whether the image data analysis technically requires an iPhone. The code doesn't answer this, and without this information, neither calculation can be completed. The only proven point is that the blanket statement "EU block, therefore useless here" is incorrect.
For Switzerland, the question is moot: Apple lists all 27 affected member states in its announcement, including Germany and Austria; Switzerland is not among them. The DMA restriction does not apply there – the determining factor is residence, not the place of purchase. An overview of missing Apple features in the EU compiles information on which other functions are also missing in Switzerland.
Why the location reveals more than the clip
The fact that the promotional video appears specifically on macOS is the most interesting part of the discovery. In the EU, the Mac is the platform on which Siri AI and Visual Intelligence are permitted to operate – though on the Mac, this refers to screen content, not to a camera capturing the surroundings. This doesn't prove anything definitive, but it's still noteworthy.
For you as a buyer in the EU, this primarily means checking your own device setup before purchasing, instead of simply accepting the message. A surcharge justified by camera functions is only worthwhile if the function works on the device the earbuds are actually connected to in everyday use. The instructions for Visual Intelligence on the iPhone demonstrate what's already possible – the function continues to work there in its current form.
Apple's AI earbuds take center stage
A demo video in the release candidate is the clearest indication of an imminent market launch that can come from Apple's own software. The September event, whose expected program summarizes the keynote preview, would be the obvious stage for this. The date itself is still pending; invitations are expected in the last week of August.
Which device do you most frequently connect your AirPods to in everyday life – iPhone, Mac, or Vision Pro? The answer to this question determines whether camera earbuds would even be worthwhile for you in this country. Tell us about your setup in the comments.
