Two days ago, a demo video showcasing Visual Intelligence on AirPods surfaced in Apple's own code. Just weeks before the iPhone event, this seemed like an unintentional preview. A new report, however, dampens expectations: the slip-up doesn't change the 2027 timeline.
The discovery was as clear as a leak can be. A demo video showing image analysis on AirPods in action was embedded in the macOS 26.7 release candidate – not a code snippet, not a text template, but finished material produced by Apple itself. Coupled with the approaching September event, this strongly suggested an imminent unveiling. However, Mark Gurman now reports in Bloomberg that the product is still slated for 2027.
Key Facts at a Glance
- According to the report, the market launch remains in 2027, despite the video from the Mac code.
- Apple is developing two competing variants under the identifiers B790 and B798.
- The B790 variant shown in the video was, until recently, still planned for 2026.
- According to the report, outstanding problems with the product have not yet been resolved.
- The sensors are designed to have low resolution and will not take photos or videos.
Two variants, two identifiers
The core of the report is a distinction that has been overlooked in previous reporting. Apple is not working on one product, but on two competing implementations – a practice that is common internally.
| Identifier | What's behind it | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| B790 | Revised AirPods Pro 3 with added sensors and AI features | was until recently scheduled for 2026 |
| B798 | Completely new generation of AirPods Pro including cameras | long planned for 2027 |
The leaked video reportedly shows the B790 variant, a modified version of the existing model. This exact variant has since been removed from this year's plans. Therefore, the obvious interpretation of the video falls apart: it doesn't show a product about to be unveiled, but rather one that has just been dropped from the schedule.
Six months, six estates
Anyone who compares the reports from the past few months will not see a linear progression, but rather a back and forth – sometimes from the same source.
- February: Initial reports mention cameras in the AirPods Pro for 2026.
- May: According to the report, the development is reaching a crucial phase.
- June: The product, along with the anniversary iPhone, is included in the planning for 2027.
- July: A leaker even reports a development halt.
- August: A second version is expected to be released later this year – followed by the video in Mac code.
- Now: The same source that reported the earlier date in August has corrected it to 2027.
The last point deserves attention. At the beginning of August, the same newsletter stated that the B790 was on the internal plan for this year. Two and a half weeks later, this information is outdated. This doesn't reflect poorly on the source – Gurman's track record in Apple's product planning is well-documented over years – but rather on the situation at Apple itself: The plan for this product is apparently being revised multiple times.
What the sensors should and should not be able to do
Since the video surfaced, a debate has raged about headphones with cameras, rife with some rather drastic derogatory terms. The technical description in the report puts the accusation into perspective: It states that these are low-resolution sensors that neither take photos nor videos. Their function is to capture the environment and provide context for voice control and other AI functions.
This is a different process than filming with a camera, even though both use the same type of component. The practical application of Visual Intelligence on the iPhone demonstrates how image analysis works on Apple devices today – there, recognition also occurs the moment it is needed, instead of storing the footage.
Whether this distinction is sufficient depends not on the technology itself, but on how Apple explains it. A device that is permanently worn on the head and captures the surroundings will have to be judged on when it does so and when it doesn't – and how bystanders are supposed to recognize this.
Why the postponement is the better news
A product whose design changes three times in six months is not a product anyone wants to see on stage in September. The report explicitly mentions unresolved problems – and a revised existing model with attached sensors would have been the weaker of the two options anyway.
For you, this means: If you're waiting for cameras in your AirPods, you're better off planning for 2027 and the new generation rather than a redesign of the current model. And if you buy new earbuds this fall, you're not missing out on anything – the version shown in the video is no longer planned.
Would you have preferred a refurbished existing model this year, or are you waiting for the new generation with sensors integrated from the ground up? Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments.
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