Report: Apple is Targeting Fall 2027 Release for its First AirPods With Cameras

Apple is reportedly targeting a fall 2027 release for its first AirPods with cameras, which will mark the company’s first foray into AI wearable devices. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who previously reported that a late 2026 release could be a possibility, now believes that Apple’s ongoing work on its new Siri AI forced the company to change its plans.

The new camera-equipped AirPods will be mainly designed to give eyes and visual intelligence to Apple’s Siri assistant. “The goal is to let users ask Siri questions about objects and the surrounding environment,” Gurman explained. In other words, customers shouldn’t expect to be able to use these new AirPods to capture photos and videos.

The reporter previously revealed that new AirPods with cameras have already reached advanced stages of development, and they’re being tested by Apple employees internally. The earbuds are said to mostly look like AirPods Pros with longer stems to give room to the cameras and a small LED light to indicate activity. In addition to providing visual intelligence, Gurman believes that Apple also worked on scenarios where the earbuds could offer contextual reminders and turn-by-turn directions when users wear them while walking.

These first AirPods with cameras could be the first product in a series of AI wearable devices from Apple, which is also reportedly working on AI glasses and an AI pendant with a built-in camera. A first version of the smart glasses may also be released in late 2027, and Gurman believes that they will include more advanced cameras that can take photos and videos, similar to Meta’s Ray-Ban AI glasses.

Besides these new AI wearable devices, Apple may have a lot of new products in the pipeline for late 2027. The company will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, and Gurman expects to see redesigned models with “a nearly edge-to-edge display, with curved glass that wraps around the sides.” While the first iOS 27 beta hinted at the upcoming release of a first foldable iPhone in September, the report mentions that a second-generation version will follow a year later.