The speculated camera for AirPods Pro by Apple may have encountered a significant obstacle.
Bloomberg reported that Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods Pro were nearing completion, but Kosutami claims the project is currently on hold. The actual situation remains undisclosed by Apple.
In May, Bloomberg detailed that Apple’s camera-enabled AirPods Pro were in “advanced” testing and might soon enter early mass production. As a user of both AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3, I was eager for their release.
However, a leaker has recently contradicted this information. Kosutami, a prototype collector and occasional Apple leaker, shared on X that the project has been “suspended,” offering no further information. This statement seems to revise an earlier update in June where Kosutami had mentioned the development stage as “concluded,” implying that the change was significant (via MacRumors).
So, what was the intended function of the camera on the AirPods Pro?
The integrated cameras were not meant for capturing photos or videos but were designed solely to provide visual data about the user's environment to Apple’s AI assistant, Siri. This essentially gives Siri a way to "see" through the user's ears.
The leaker first suggested in February that infrared cameras would enable the AirPods Pro to connect with Apple Intelligence. Subsequent reliable sources have backed this claim, noting that the product has been under development for approximately four years.
Apple reportedly aimed for a launch in the first half of 2026, a timeframe that has already elapsed.
Could Siri be the reason behind this product's issues?
The ongoing delays may be related to Siri itself. Bloomberg previously indicated that Apple might postpone the AirPods launch if it was dissatisfied with the quality of the Visual Intelligence capabilities, reminiscent of its approach during Siri’s AI rollout.
Additionally, the ongoing memory chip shortage may have influenced the situation. It’s worth mentioning that Kosutami’s credibility is somewhat mixed: they successfully predicted the iPhone 16 Pro’s metal-enclosed battery around ten months before its launch, but their assertions about the AirPods Pro 3 becoming available in August 2024 did not materialize.
From my perspective, “suspended” could either indicate a delay or possible cancellation. Only Apple knows the true status.
For over five years, Shikhar has consistently simplified advancements in consumer tech.
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The speculated camera for AirPods Pro by Apple may have encountered a significant obstacle.
Almost two months after Bloomberg reported that camera-equipped AirPods Pro were in advanced testing, leaker Kosutami claims the project has been put on hold.