The new AirPods Pro will have integrated cameras — would you still want them?

The evolution of wearable devices seems to know no pause, and according to the latest rumors, Apple is preparing to introduce a decidedly unusual and potentially divisive novelty on its earbuds.

Although the current AirPods Pro have been updated recently, breaking the traditional three-year cycle to which the Cupertino company has accustomed us, it seems that a new hardware iteration is already planned for this year.

However, it won’t be a completely redesigned model, but a a targeted update, focused on a specific technology.

New AirPods Pro, invisible cameras dedicated to AI

The focus of this advance, corroborated recently by the leaker Kosutami on the X platform, concerns the implementation of infrared cameras (IR) in the upcoming high-end earbuds.

It is important to clarify that Apple’s intent is not to turn the earbuds into tools for taking photographs, but to enable new features related to the so-called Visual Intelligence.

This technology would allow the earbuds to understand the surrounding environmental context, boosting spatial computing capabilities and interaction with the company’s ecosystem.

Tim Cook has repeatedly emphasized the importance of these capabilities in future AI developments, and dedicated hardware seems to be the missing piece to realize this vision.

Market strategies and pricing positioning

The introduction of such sophisticated technology raises inevitable questions about the product’s commercial positioning. While some reports suggest that the price could remain unchanged compared to current models, a more careful analysis of Apple’s recent strategies suggests a different scenario.

It’s likely that the company will replicate the approach used with the AirPods 4, offering two distinct variants differentiated by a key feature.

In this hypothetical scenario, the base model of the AirPods Pro would continue to be offered at the current price, while the advanced version, equipped with the new infrared sensors and the Visual Intelligence features, could sit in a higher tier.

This segmentation would allow Apple not to alienate customers interested only in audio quality, while offering a cutting-edge device for the most demanding users and those interested in deep AI integration.

As for the timeline, tradition suggests that Apple unveils its audio novelties during the autumn event dedicated to iPhone, usually scheduled for September.

However, given the atypical nature of this update and the speed with which rumors are circulating, it is not possible to rule out an early launch.