Apple's Camera-Equipped AirPods Could Launch Earlier Than Expected

Apple's camera-equipped AirPods, previously expected in 2027, may now be released before the end of 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The devices, codenamed B790 and B798, are referenced in iOS 27 code, which is slated for a September launch. The B790 version is reportedly closer to release, while B798 is scheduled for 2027. Rumors suggest the new product might be called AirPods Pro Ultra. Unlike conventional cameras, these AirPods will capture low-resolution images to power contextual AI via Siri, with a small LED light indicating operation. Apple is also developing smart glasses with similar camera capabilities for health and fitness tracking, potentially without a camera or with a camera that only feeds data to AI tools, avoiding the negative reputation of Meta's smart glasses. Gurman noted Apple will likely avoid Meta's 'super-sensing' mode and will not use customer recordings to train AI models. The news was reported by PetaPixel on August 4, 2026.