Danny Weber
A new rumor claims Apple has put camera-equipped AirPods Pro on hold, even though earlier reports said the device was already deep in testing.
Apple may have paused development of AirPods Pro with built-in cameras, according to insider and prototype collector Kosutami. In a post on X, he clarified an earlier comment about the product’s “case” being finished and now says the project has specifically been “paused”. He has not shared any other details yet.
The rumor is a little unexpected: Bloomberg previously reported that AirPods Pro with cameras had already reached an advanced testing stage. According to that report, the device was close to early mass production. Bloomberg also allowed for the possibility that Apple could delay the launch if it was not happy with the quality of Visual Intelligence features and the upgraded Siri.
Cameras in AirPods Pro, according to rumors, are not meant for photos or videos but for AI features. They would give Siri visual information about the user’s surroundings, helping Apple Intelligence understand context more clearly. Earlier leaks also mentioned infrared cameras, while the project itself has reportedly been in development for several years.
Apple was initially said to be aiming to bring AirPods Pro with cameras to market in the first half of 2026. But the schedule may have slipped because of a smarter version of Siri, whose rollout is being linked to Apple’s fall software releases. A shortage of memory and other chips may also have affected the timeline, although there is no direct confirmation of that.
This rumor should be treated with caution. Kosutami has previously shared accurate details about upcoming Apple products, including the metal battery casing of the iPhone 16 Pro and early information about the Apple Watch band made from FineWoven. But he has also missed before: in 2024, for example, he prematurely claimed that AirPods Pro 3 would arrive very soon.
© A. Krivonosov