Tag: AirPods

  • iOS 27 Beta Code Hints at Apple’s Next AI Wearable: Vision Glasses or Camera-Equipped AirPods?

    iOS 27 Beta Code Hints at Apple’s Next AI Wearable: Vision Glasses or Camera-Equipped AirPods?

    New code discovered inside Apple’s iOS 27 developer beta has reignited speculation about the company’s upcoming AI-powered wearable. Initially, the code appeared to reference the long-rumored Apple Vision Glasses, but developers now believe it may point to a pair of camera-equipped AirPods instead.

    The mystery device, carrying the internal codename B790, was uncovered by developer Sam Henri Gold in the second beta of iOS 27. The code includes system messages tied to Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature, which allows a wearable to recognize landmarks, text, and objects using onboard cameras. Examples embedded in the software—such as the Eiffel Tower and a coffee mug—suggest the wearable could deliver real-time contextual information about what users see.

    What initially fueled Vision Glasses hype has shifted after closer analysis. The code describes images captured “from cameras on either side of a user’s head,” a description that aligns more naturally with earbuds than eyewear. Developers also note that the B790 codename follows a pattern consistent with earlier AirPods identifiers, while Apple’s rumored smart glasses are believed to carry a different internal designation.

    Visual Intelligence, part of Apple’s broader Apple Intelligence initiative, already enables users to identify objects and landmarks through AI-powered image recognition on the iPhone. The latest code indicates Apple intends to extend this functionality to wearable devices. Whether the final product will be Vision Glasses or camera-equipped AirPods remains unknown, but one thing is clear: Apple is actively developing software for a new class of AI-powered wearables with integrated cameras.

  • iOS 27 Beta 2 Leak Suggests Apple Is Developing Camera-Equipped AirPods for Spatial AI

    iOS 27 Beta 2 Leak Suggests Apple Is Developing Camera-Equipped AirPods for Spatial AI

    Apple’s rumored camera-equipped AirPods have received a fresh vote of confidence from code discovered in iOS 27 beta 2. Developer Sam Henri Gold spotted references to an unreleased product codenamed B790, arriving on the same day that a separate leaker claimed the project had been suspended—creating two conflicting signals about the product’s future.

    What the Leaked Code Actually Shows

    The code Gold found is a system prompt template designed to process ‘two images from cameras on either side of the user’s head,’ handling the left image first and the right one second. That description outlines stereo image processing, where two slightly offset views of the same scene provide Apple’s AI with extra spatial context. The template also includes worked examples, asking about the Eiffel Tower or a coffee mug, along with fallback instructions telling the system to request a new image if the original comes out blurry or poorly lit.

    Why This Points to AirPods, Not Smart Glasses

    Gold initially floated smart glasses as the likely target, but the codename tells a different story. Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 carry the internal codename B788, while the company’s rumored smart glasses are tied to the N50 codename instead. B790 fits far more naturally into Apple’s existing audio-hardware numbering than into its glasses lineup, which is why multiple outlets now treat camera-equipped AirPods as the more likely explanation. The camera placement described in the code—positioned on either side of the head—also aligns better with earbuds than with a front-facing glasses design.

    A Timeline Clouded by Conflicting Reports

    The bigger question isn’t whether the hardware exists, but when it might actually ship. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has previously reported that both the camera-equipped AirPods and Apple’s smart glasses are now targeting a late 2027 release, a shift from earlier hopes of a 2026 launch. Adding to the confusion, leaker Kosutami posted that the AirPods camera project had been ‘suspended’ the same week the code surfaced—a claim that sits awkwardly next to active development work showing up in a shipping beta. Whether that means a full cancellation, a temporary pause, or simply a slower internal timeline remains unclear.

    What These AirPods Would Actually Do

    If the product does arrive, its core pitch centers on Visual Intelligence, the feature that already lets iPhone users point their camera at an object and ask Siri what it is. Camera-equipped AirPods would extend that same capability to earbuds, letting users ask contextual questions about their surroundings without pulling out their phone. Early pricing chatter places the product above the existing AirPods Pro 3, possibly in the $299–$349 range under a new ‘AirPods Ultra’ branding, though none of these details have been confirmed by Apple.