The second developer beta of iOS 27 contains code that hints at a previously unannounced Apple device with head-mounted cameras. The timing is particularly interesting: on the very same day, a leaker announced the temporary cancellation of camera-equipped AirPods.
Operating system betas are a rich source of information for Apple observers because Apple often prepares new features in the code long before the corresponding hardware sees the light of day. In the second iOS 27 beta, app designer and developer Sam Henri Gold stumbled upon an entry describing a product codenamed B790 – one that can process two images from cameras on either side of a user's head. This fuels speculation about a camera-equipped wearable, especially as rumors circulate about a temporary halt to development of AirPods with cameras. Two conflicting signals in a single day – reason enough to put this discovery into perspective.
What the code actually describes
The discovered entry comes from the beta system data and reads less like a product announcement than a technical instruction. It specifies how Visual Intelligence should work on the mysterious device: The function will be applied to landmarks, text, and familiar objects – the code cites the Eiffel Tower in Paris and a coffee cup as concrete examples. The key clue to the device's design lies in the statement that it transmits two images from cameras on either side of the head. This arrangement would perfectly fit a head-worn accessory that captures the surroundings from two perspectives.
The entry doesn't reveal much more. It doesn't confirm a product or mention a timeline. What it does provide is further evidence that Apple is actively developing the software foundation for camera-equipped wearables.
AirPods or glasses? What the code names suggest
Gold himself initially brought the long-rumored smart glasses into the discussion. However, a closer look at Apple's internal codenames suggests otherwise. The AirPods Pro 3 were internally codenamed B788, while the smart glasses are rumored to be codenamed N50. B790 is therefore numerically close to the latest AirPods and would fit logically into Apple's B-series, which traditionally represents audio hardware. Against this backdrop, a camera-equipped AirPods model seems the more likely explanation – especially since this project is reportedly further along in development than the glasses.
The Glasses variant cannot be ruled out. What is clear is that Apple is working on both device classes simultaneously: on earbuds with cameras, rumored to be "AirPods Ultra," as well as on smart glasses with cameras, about which rumors have been circulating for months.
Visual Intelligence as a common denominator
Regardless of the specific device behind B790, the code aims for the same core function: Visual Intelligence is intended to become the heart of these wearables. The idea is that someone wearing the camera-equipped AirPods or the glasses could, for example, look at a houseplant and receive information about it from Siri – without having to take out their iPhone.
The underlying technology isn't new. Visual Intelligence is already available on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer models, and it will be significantly expanded with iOS 27. The feature will move to the Camera app, be accessible via a new Siri mode, and thus move closer to the comprehensive Siri relaunch in iOS 27. A head-mounted device would be the logical extension of this logic: Instead of consciously pointing the camera at a subject, the accessory will already be constantly capturing the surroundings from the user's perspective.
Why two reports seem to contradict each other
The real appeal of this discovery lies in its contrast to the rumors. While a leaker reported that Apple had temporarily halted work on camera-equipped AirPods, the fresh code from the current beta shows that the software side of this concept is still ongoing. This doesn't necessarily represent a contradiction: software preparation and hardware development at Apple don't always follow the same pace, and a codename stored in the system could represent an earlier development stage that hasn't yet been cleaned up. It's also conceivable that one of the two signals is simply inaccurate. Neither can be definitively proven based on a single code entry.
A time window that is still a long way off
Even if B790 refers to a real product, it will likely be some time before it launches. According to recent reports, both the camera earbuds rumored to be "AirPods Ultra" and the smart glasses are currently slated for release at the end of 2027. The discovery in the iOS 27 beta is therefore not proof of an imminent unveiling, but rather a piece of the puzzle that reinforces Apple's focus on camera-based, AI-driven wearables. Until an official announcement, every codename remains just that: a clue, not a promise. (Image: Shutterstock / Ivan_Shenets)
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