Apple may be working on new AirPods with built-in cameras, per a new report. However outlandish that may sound, these AirPods cameras will help Apple enhance spatial audio features on its existing and upcoming augmented-reality headsets. That is because these will not be the regular cameras for photography. Apple is planning to add infrared cameras to the AirPods to track head movement better, among other uses.
Long-time Apple insider and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said Apple plans to mass-produce the new AirPods by 2026. This hints at a potential launch timeline of two years later. Apple has not officially confirmed the development.
The infrared camera-fitted AirPods, according to Kuo, citing a supply-chain survey, will work in tandem with the Vision Pro headset to offer a better spatial computing experience. One of the use cases could let users listen to an emphasised sound from a direction where they turn their heads to look. But this may be just one of the many applications of infrared cameras. Kuo said the cameras could offer “in-air” gestures to AirPods by doubling as a receiver that works similarly to that in the Face ID facial recognition system.
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The upcoming functionality, aided by infrared cameras, could allow Apple to take a big leap in wireless earbud technology. Apple has upgraded its AirPods over the past few years to emulate the iPod experience. The upcoming iOS 18 will add a bunch of new features and enhance the existing ones, positioning the AirPods as a leader in the premium TWS market.
Some other reports have even suggested that the next AirPods models may feature health-tracking features, which Apple has been working on for a while. Several other brands have tried their hands at integrating health-centric features into their wireless earbuds, but have mostly received mixed responses from the market. Should Apple plan to introduce such features to AirPods in future, it could shake up the market, causing others to implement these features proactively.
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