Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods have surfaced in macOS Tahoe 26.7 code as evidence they are approaching launch, with a September debut alongside new iPhones now the most probable timeline.
MacRumors found a short video embedded in the macOS release candidate showing a man wearing AirPods asking Siri to save a book he is looking at. The voice-over narration reads: “With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later.” The cameras will feed visual information directly to Siri, allowing the assistant to answer questions about the wearer’s surroundings and log details for later retrieval.
Here is your first look at AirPods with Cameras in action using Visual Intelligence.
This video file came from macOS 26.7 RC pic.twitter.com/yo7RI4MCeu
— Aaron (@aaronp613) August 18, 2026
Apple has developed two separate camera AirPods projects internally. The device found in macOS code carries the codename B790, distinct from an earlier effort codenamed B798 that has been in development for around four years and remains slated for 2027. The B790 model is further along in production, with references already appearing in iOS 27 code and the hardware flagged on Apple’s internal roadmap for release as early as this year.
Mark Gurman previously reported that if B790 launches this year, a September debut at Apple’s iPhone event is most likely. The company has historically unveiled new AirPods at the same event where it announces new iPhones.
The AirPods will look nearly identical to the current AirPods Pro 3, with the most visible change being a slightly thicker stem to house the camera hardware. The device is expected to use tiny infrared cameras similar to those found in Face ID. A small LED light will illuminate when the AirPods are actively sending visual information to Siri.
Beyond saving items visually, the cameras unlock several practical functions. The AirPods can provide contextual reminders based on what the camera detects, supply more advanced turn-by-turn navigation using real-world visuals, and potentially serve as an accessibility tool. The system includes a safety feature that alerts the wearer if hair is blocking the camera lens.
Code references mention an image stream capability: “B790 start image stream failed for left bud,” suggesting the cameras feed continuous low-resolution data to Visual Intelligence on the device. The setup process will require users to configure Visual Intelligence features during initial pairing.
Apple is weighing whether to call the device AirPods Pro 4 or AirPods Ultra, with the latter more likely given that camera-equipped models are expected to cost significantly more than the current $249 AirPods Pro 3. The premium branding would also differentiate them from the standard line.
Camera AirPods represent just one part of Apple’s larger effort to embed AI into wearables. The company is simultaneously developing smart glasses and a wearable AI pendant, with the cameras serving as “the eyes” for Siri to capture the environment in low resolution. This allows users to ask questions about items they see in real time.
The timing makes particular sense given iOS 27’s new VoiceOver accessibility features that Apple announced earlier this year. Those upgrades are designed for blind and low-vision users but become far more powerful when paired with cameras that can identify and describe objects in the physical world.
Earlier this summer, leaker Kosutami claimed development of the camera AirPods had halted in July 2026, though the August discovery of finished video content in macOS code contradicts that assertion. Apple has previously reserved the right to delay the AirPods launch if Visual Intelligence features do not meet quality standards, so an announcement in September is not guaranteed even if hardware is ready.
If the B790 model does not debut by year’s end, expect the fuller-featured B798 version to arrive in late 2027 instead. Apple’s internal strategy of maintaining competing parallel projects is common practice within the company and suggests the organization felt pressure to accelerate the camera AirPods timeline, but execution on Siri’s visual intelligence capabilities remains the critical unknown.
1 comment