Igeekphone reported on February 10th that the source @Kosutami_Ito posted a tweet on the X platform on February 8th, revealing that Apple plans to break the usual three-year update cycle of the AirPods series and launch a new AirPods Pro model equipped with infrared cameras (IR Cameras) in 2026.
In terms of positioning, based on supply chain information, Apple does not intend to completely replace the existing products with this new model. Instead, it plans to launch a derivative version with higher hardware specifications. Most of the hardware will follow the current AirPods Pro 3 design.
The core of this hardware upgrade lies in the introduction of an infrared camera system. IGEEKPHONE quoted the article to explain that this media analysis believes that this newly added hardware is not used for taking photos, but rather supports AI functions similar to “Visual Intelligence”.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly emphasized the importance of visual intelligence in AI interaction. The new AirPods Pro is expected to further expand Apple’s AI ecosystem, by using cameras to sense the surrounding environment and providing users with scene-based enhanced audio experiences or spatial computing assistance.
Tianfeng International analyst Guo Mingzhi made a prediction as early as June 2024 that Apple plans to introduce infrared cameras in headphones. Unlike traditional shooting functions, this infrared component is mainly used for environmental perception. It operates similarly to Face ID and aims to enhance the “Spatial Audio” immersion by capturing information about the surrounding space. It can also form an ecosystem connection with Apple Vision Pro headsets, providing a more precise spatial computing experience.
Regarding the price, the source claims that the new AirPods Pro with a camera will maintain the current price, which is estimated to be 1,899 yuan.