Apple is reportedly bringing a major hardware upgrade to its upcoming AirPods Pro. The wireless earbuds will be able to "see around you" with the help of new hardware (likely cameras), according to the leaker Kosutami.
Apple is said to be working on a multi-year launch for the AirPods Pro 3. Its first iteration launched in September 2025, and an upgraded version is expected this year, suggesting it may not be called AirPods Pro 4.
Noted Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo expects Apple to launch AirPods Pro with built-in infrared cameras in 2026, stating that the company is working on a "more significant hardware upgrade." Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital has previously shared similar claims that Apple is preparing a follow-up to the AirPods Pro 3 with a tiny infrared camera as a key differentiator in 2026.
While Apple has typically launched new AirPods Pro every three years, it wouldn"t be surprising to see an upgraded AirPods Pro 3. The company launched AirPods Pro 2 in 2022, and updated them with a USB-C connector, dust resistance, and lossless audio a year later.
It remains to be seen whether both versions of the AirPods Pro 3 will be sold side by side, or whether the newer model will add an infrared camera on top of the heart rate sensor. It won"t be surprising if Apple sells them together, as it"s already doing with the AirPods 4. However, it doesn"t align with the leaker"s post, which stated that Apple will sell the upgraded model at the same price as the current AirPods Pro 3 ($249).
If you"re wondering why Apple would want to fit a camera into the AirPods, there are reasons. For starters, the IR camera module might unlock new gestures. We might see in-air gesture control as the camera module can detect "environmental image changes," according to Kuo.
Apple is expected to enhance the spatial audio experience to better integrate with the Vision Pro and future headsets. The analyst previously said that he expects the IR camera-equipped AirPods to enter mass production in 2026.