Rafomac News, Tech & Trends That MatterApple accidentally leaked a finished demo of AirPods Pro with cameras built right in, sparking excitement and confusion. But now, that very model has been shelved, while a fresh, smarter version is coming next year.
How Apple Revealed Its Own AirPods Pro Secret
It’s rare to see a tech giant leak its own unreleased hardware. Yet that’s exactly what happened when Apple left a fully produced demo video of AirPods Pro with cameras hidden inside the code of macOS 14.7 release candidate. This wasn’t a sketch or a rumor—it was the real deal, complete with a voiceover saying, “With visual intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you’d like, just ask me to save it for later.” That strongly suggested these AirPods could actually see, thanks to tiny cameras embedded inside each bud.
Then things took a turn. Just two days after the leak surfaced, reports emerged that Apple had scrapped this very model, known internally as the B790. Instead, a fresh version, called B798, is now planned for release in 2027. So, what happened between the demo leak and this decision?
Why Are Cameras Key to Apple’s Future Wearables?
Apple’s integration of cameras in AirPods is not just a gimmick. Mark Gurman, a reliable Apple insider, reported that these cameras would feed visual data directly to Siri, letting the voice assistant answer questions based on what the user sees around them. This builds the foundation for Apple’s broader vision of augmented reality, potentially feeding into smart glasses set for launch next year.
Essentially, each AirPod will house its own camera, providing dual angles of the environment. The leaked software code goes deep, revealing these buds can capture images in active mode (triggered by Siri) at 640 by 640 pixels, later upscaled, and passively take background snapshots at lower resolutions to maintain environmental awareness. This high-tech setup will also account for head movements, lens distortion, and more to keep visual data accurate—though video recording won’t be supported.
What About Privacy and Secure Pairing?
With cameras in earbuds, privacy obviously becomes a concern. The leaked code hints at a new “secure pairing” feature requiring users to place their AirPods in their case before connecting. This could help encrypt data streams between the AirPods and iPhone, ensuring images captured are shielded from interception.
Interestingly, older rumors floated the idea of infrared sensors rather than true cameras. But the code specifically mentions colour images and even has warning prompts about hair blocking cameras. Each AirPod may also sport a capture indicator light, alerting people nearby when the cameras are active—no sneaky recording here.
What’s Actually Launching Soon—and What’s Further Off?
Despite the buzz, the camera-equipped AirPods Pro won’t arrive this year. Instead, Apple plans to release a new generation of AirPods Pro, likely called the AirPods Pro 4, in 2027 around the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. This model, the B798, looks set to deliver a thoroughly reworked experience rather than a quick camera retrofit on the existing AirPods Pro 3 platform (B790), which they abandoned.
Meanwhile, Apple is also working on regular AirPods 5 models—both standard and with active noise cancellation. These models, codenamed B868M and B868E, won’t include cameras but will probably have the next-generation H3 chip, promising improved sound and lower latency. Sources say these could be announced as soon as September alongside new iPhones.
Will These AirPods Pro with Cameras Cost a Fortune?
Price is another big question. Early reports from February suggested Apple might keep the price at $249, the same as current AirPods Pro. However, a recent MacRumors leak hints the naming could stay as AirPods Pro rather than shifting to an “AirPods Ultra” brand, with a probable price increase to around $279 or even $299. It’s a slight hike but still competitive given the added tech.
What This Means for Users
Imagine wearing AirPods that don’t just deliver sound but see the world alongside you, giving Siri a visual context for your questions. That concept could replace multiple gadgets you carry today, like AI pins or other wearable assistants. Yet it also opens debates on privacy that Apple will have to address head-on, especially with devices worn in your ears for hours daily.
And the fact that this leak came directly from Apple’s own macOS build—revealing over 10 unreleased products—is almost unheard of. It shines a light on the tightrope Apple walks between innovation and secrecy.
If you want to get a sense of how these camera AirPods might work before their launch, the leaked demo video gives a remarkable preview of what’s ahead.
