Apple is reportedly developing a brand new AirPods model for 2026. Rumors suggest the headphones will feature new features including the addition of an infrared camera.
This is a new development that could well see the light of day in Apple’s next AirPods. The famous analyst at TF International, Ming-Chi Kuo, has claimed that the Cupertino firm would be working on new headphones equipped with an infrared camera. The latter should see the light of day in 2026 according to the blog post published by the analyst.
Concretely, what would this bring to users? This infrared camera, integrated into the brand’s new headphones, would be designed to offer greater immersion with the Apple Vision Pro. Remember that its release is scheduled in France on July 12, 2024. Similar to Face ID on iPhones, this new camera technology would detect the head movements of the user wearing the headphones. As a result, the sound would be adjusted depending on the direction, reinforcing the immersive effect. Additionally, AirPods should improve interaction “man-machine” by interpreting hand gestures. This system could work in tandem with the headset, which already has a gesture control option.
This is not the first time that this type of project has been mentioned by Apple. Last February, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman reported that the American company was working to make its headphones smarter by integrating cameras. The idea was also to couple other sensors with artificial intelligence and more advanced health monitoring.
All this information is just rumors for now. But there is no doubt that Apple is currently working on new models that will offer more or less advanced options. Competition is tough in a market where new brands are constantly emerging.