AirPods Pro 4 will reportedly feature built-in cameras to see around you

Published by RawNews1st

Apple’s AirPods lineup could be headed in a very unexpected direction. According to a new report from MacRumors, Apple’s next-generation AirPods Pro may feature tiny built-in cameras designed to help the earbuds “see around you,” opening the door to new gesture controls, spatial awareness features, and deeper integration with Apple’s broader spatial computing ambitions.

The claim comes from leaker and prototype collector Kosutami, who says the next AirPods Pro will include cameras in each earbud. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously echoed similar details, reporting that Apple is working on AirPods equipped with at least one infrared camera. These sensors could enable advanced hand gesture recognition and enhance spatial audio experiences, particularly when paired with Apple Vision Pro.

Interestingly, Kosutami suggests the camera-equipped AirPods Pro will retain the current $249 price point, pushing back on earlier rumours that Apple would position the new hardware as a more expensive tier. However, Chinese leaker Instant Digital offers a slightly different take. Rather than a full generational leap to AirPods Pro 4, the camera-equipped model could be a premium, higher-end variant of the AirPods Pro 3 introduced last fall, with both versions sold side by side.

Chinese insider Instant Digital added that the device may not be a full-fledged AirPods Pro 4, but rather a premium variant of the existing AirPods Pro 3 released in 2025. Both versions could be sold in parallel, similar to how Apple currently offers two AirPods 4 models priced at $129 and $179.

According to Kosutami, Ming-Chi Kuo, and Instant Digital, the 2026 AirPods Pro — or a premium version of the AirPods Pro 3 — may include infrared cameras for gesture recognition and improved spatial audio with Vision Pro. The price is expected to remain $249, with both models sold side by side. The announcement is likely in fall 2026, marking an unusually fast update cycle for AirPods.