Apple is reportedly developing the next iteration of AirPods Pro, and they might have cameras.
The AirPods Pro 3 were released a month ago, and the cheaper AirPods 4 came out in September 2024. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a new Pro upgrade, as well as updated AirPods 5. Gurman's report also said Apple is working on the new AirPods 5. Gurman does not expect Apple to add its heart-rate sensor feature to the model, but the company could introduce other health-monitoring features to some of its products.
Though there is no official timetable for either, Gurman's report suggests that the next AirPods Pro and the AirPods 5 should be released sometime in 2026. It's uncertain what the upgraded AirPods Pro will be called, whether they'll be the AirPods Pro 4 or an enhanced AirPods Pro 3.
Read more: AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Should You Upgrade?
Apple is expected to launch several items early next year, including the iPhone 17e, new MacBook Air models, a revamped iPad Air and a budget iPad.
A representative from Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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If true, the AirPods Pro's addition of cameras aligns with a prediction from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said in June 2024 that "Apple plans to mass-produce new AirPods with camera modules by 2026."
Kuo said then that the cameras would be infrared, which might be advanced enough to let people control the device by simply making gestures in the air. The camera is similar to the iPhone Face ID receiver, Kuo said.
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Gurman also reported that the next AirPods Pro will get the H3 audio chip, which CNET executive editor Dave Carnoy had hoped for in the AirPods Pro 3. The chip -- Apple's latest processor -- is designed to reduce lag time and enhance audio quality.
Do we really need in-air gestures?
YouTuber Jon Rittinger of the JFL Network says he's not sure embedding cameras in the AirPods Pro is a must-have, but added that he'd love to be proven wrong.Â
"It's hard not to think of BMW's in-car gestures that were wholly unnecessary," Rittinger told CNET. "It's nice to have more options for the consumer, but it's hard to imagine a world where we are gesturing to change (music) tracks instead of just taking out our phones."
Apple has dominated the earbud audio market, although sales have declined yearly since their peak during the COVID-19 pandemic.