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Apple isn't working on one camera model, but two – and the less well-known version is apparently much further along than previously thought. While the variant that has been in development for years remains slated for 2027, the second one has already appeared in Apple's internal planning for this year.
Camera earbuds have been considered Apple's next big step in wearable technology since early 2024: miniature cameras in the stems are intended to capture the surroundings and transmit the data to the iPhone's AI functions. However, the path to this point has been anything but smooth, with advanced testing in the spring, a delay to 2027, and most recently, even reports of a complete development halt. A new report from the Bloomberg newsletter Power On now puts these conflicting reports in a different light than previous rumors about the AirPods Ultra suggested – because they may not even refer to the same product.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Apple is developing two versions of the camera AirPods in parallel: B798 and B790.
- The B798 will still launch in 2027, while the B790 is scheduled for this year according to the internal roadmap.
- References to B790 have already appeared in the code of iOS 27.
- It remains unclear how the two models differ and whether both will even be released.
- The main benefit of AI depends on Siri AI – and thus on a function that will not launch on iPhones and iPads in the EU.
Two development paths with different timelines
All previous reports about camera-equipped AirPods revolved around a single device with the internal designation B798. This exact model was originally planned for 2026 and was later postponed to 2027.
According to the report, a second version, codenamed B790, also exists, which is internally slated for release no earlier than this year. It is common practice at Apple to develop competing versions of the same product in parallel.
| Feature | B790 | B798 |
|---|---|---|
| Expected start | at the earliest this year | 2027 |
| first known | July 2026 via beta code | February 2024 |
| Development status | According to the roadmap, further progress has been made. | Postponed several times |
| Presumed role | simpler version | more technically sophisticated version |
The technical differences between the two versions are unclear. It is also uncertain whether both models will even reach the market – parallel internal development processes regularly end with only one variant surviving.
What the iOS 27 code already revealed
The designation B790 is not a completely new discovery. At the beginning of July, a developer came across references in the second beta of iOS 27 that pointed to a previously unknown Apple wearable with cameras.
The fact that a product already appears in shipped operating system code is a more reliable signal than any roadmap announcement. Software preparations of this kind usually only begin once the hardware specifications are largely finalized.
The reported development halt in a new light
In early July, a prototype collector caused a stir by claiming on X that a camera-based AirPods project had been suspended. This contradicted Bloomberg reports from May indicating that the development had reached a crucial testing phase.
The two-variant structure offers a possible explanation: One stoppage might have referred to B798, while B790 continued operating. This isn't proven, but it fits the facts better than the assumption that a nearly finished product was completely discontinued within a few weeks and then resumed.
The success rate helps in evaluating sources: Mark Gurman is considered the most reliable single source in the Apple environment for product roadmaps, while the prototype collector has provided correct information – for example, about the metal casing of the iPhone 16 Pro battery – but has been wrong about timelines.
Longer stems and a light indicator
There is currently little concrete information about the design of the camera AirPods. According to earlier reports, the stems will be longer than those of the AirPods Pro to accommodate the camera modules.
In addition, there will be an indicator light that signals when data is being transferred to the cloud. With this feature, Apple is adopting a design familiar from cameras on laptops and smart home devices: a visible indicator informs those nearby that data is being recorded.
Without Siri AI on the iPhone, the earbuds lose their purpose
Ear cameras only make sense if the paired iPhone can actually do something with the image data. This is precisely where the problem lies for buyers in Germany, Austria, and much of Europe: Siri AI won't be launching on iPhones and iPads in the EU for the time being because Apple and the Commission can't agree on the interpretation of the Digital Markets Act. Apple has explicitly not provided a timeline.
Switzerland is exempt: As a non-EU country, it is not subject to the DMA, and the restrictions do not apply there. For the German and Austrian markets, however, there is a risk of an accessory whose core function is missing from the main device – as long as the situation remains unchanged, purchasing it in these countries would be a gamble on a political agreement. What is already possible is demonstrated by existing image recognition: Visual Intelligence can already be used on the iPhone, just without the new generation of assistant technology behind it. The list of Apple features missing in the EU illustrates the overall extent of the gap.
Apple's first AI wearable is within reach
With the B790 firmware, the potential launch date shifts from an abstract "sometime in 2027" to a period that already includes the current year. This also brings the product offensive planned alongside the anniversary iPhone closer together.
Whether this will actually lead to a fall unveiling remains speculation – Apple has confirmed neither the product nor a date. However, the combination of code references and internal scheduling is the clearest indication of this product so far. (Image: Apfelpatient)
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