apple New AirPods Pro are expected to be released this year. Rumor has it that the next model may come with a built-in infrared camera, which would be a major upgrade. The leaker claims that the updated AirPods Pro 3 will feature an IR camera while maintaining the same design as the current model released last fall. Camera-equipped AirPods Pro are expected to debut this year, even though Apple has historically taken a three-year gap between new AirPods Pro models. This year’s AirPods Pro are expected to be the same as the current AirPods Pro 3, rather than an entirely new design, with an infrared camera as the main upgrade.Recently, a leaker confirmed the camera feature, which is the main new feature rumored for the next high-end AirPods Pro model. In a post shared on X, a leaker named Kostami wrote: “The next AirPods Pro will let you see your surroundings. Same price. ”However, the leaker’s claim that these new AirPods will be priced the same as the current model may not be true. Apple is likely to follow the pattern of its current AirPods 4 lineup, which is to differentiate the two models by one main feature.
What AirPods Pro with camera could bring to users
The addition of IR cameras should enable visual intelligence-style AI capabilities. This may explain why Apple CEO Tim Cook continues to tout visual intelligence as a notable AI feature for users.Discussion about AirPods Pro imaging sensors first appeared in June 2024. At the time, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that an infrared camera module would be used to provide environmental views and enhance spatial audio in Apple Vision Pro.In July 2025, Apple was granted a patent for the use of cameras for proximity detection on devices such as AirPods and other wearable devices. Rather than full computer vision, these sensors use multiple light sources visible to the sensor, similar to the dot projectors used in Face ID for 3D depth mapping.Rumor has it that the sensor’s capabilities have been expanded to include imaging as an environmental IR camera. This data is apple intelligenceprovides visual intelligence data that can be used alongside images taken with the iPhone’s camera.However, there is no word on the exact release date at this time. Apple typically announces new AirPods at its fall iPhone event, but this new model could arrive sooner.