AirPods That Can See: Inside Apple’s Biggest Earbuds Upgrade Yet

Apple is accelerating its upgrade cycle. Less than a year after the launch of AirPods Pro 3, a new, higher-end version is reportedly targeting a September 2026 release.

Since the original AirPods Pro debuted in October 2019, Apple has maintained a roughly three-year upgrade cycle, with AirPods Pro 2 arriving in 2022 and AirPods Pro 3 in 2025. A 2026 release would break that pattern by landing just a year after the current model.

Artist’s impression of a possible iPhone Fold design, based on current rumours and leaks.

Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first flagged the accelerated timeline, describing the upcoming model as a “more significant” hardware upgrade centred around at least one tiny infrared camera in each earbud. Multiple sources, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and MacRumors, have since pointed to a second-half 2026 launch window, most likely alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and the rumoured iPhone Fold at Apple’s September event.

For now, there is no consensus on the product name. Some commentators refer to the upcoming model as AirPods Pro 4, while others believe Apple may position it as a higher-end version of AirPods Pro 3, potentially using names such as “AirPods Pro 3 with Cameras” or “AirPods Pro 4”.

This approach could mirror Apple’s strategy with the standard AirPods 4, which comes in two versions, one at US$129 (without ANC) and another at US$179 (with ANC). MacRumors suggests the lineup could ultimately look like this:

• AirPods Pro 3, US$249 (current model)
• AirPods Pro 3 with Cameras US$299  
• AirPods Pro 4 $349+ (higher-end variant)

Apple has never offered two AirPods Pro models simultaneously, but the AirPods 4 precedent makes it plausible.

Lights, Camera, Action

The standout rumour is the addition of tiny infrared sensors embedded in each earbud stem. According to leaker Kosutami, these would allow the earbuds to “see around the wearer” and integrate with Apple Intelligence for context-aware features.

To clarify, these are infrared sensors rather than conventional optical cameras. They cannot capture photos or video, which addresses obvious privacy concerns. Instead, the expected applications centre on gesture-based controls and environmental awareness. The sensors are also expected to integrate more closely with Apple’s Vision Pro ecosystem.

AppleInsider has drawn parallels with Vision Pro’s gesture system, suggesting the AirPods could bring pinch-style control interactions to iPhone, iPad and Mac, extending spatial computing gestures beyond the headset.

There is also speculation that Apple may remove the physical pressure sensors on the stems entirely and replace them with gesture-based input on the higher-end model.

Chip Upgrades

AirPods Pro 3 surprised some observers by retaining the same H2 chip introduced with AirPods Pro 2 in 2022. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in late 2025 that Apple is developing the H3, its next-generation audio silicon.

Expected improvements include stronger active noise cancellation and improved power efficiency, both important for handling on-device AI processing. The H3 is also expected to support higher sampling rates, potentially enabling broader lossless audio support.

Apple has already developed its proprietary SPR AVS (Spatial Relay Audio-Visual Sync) protocol, which debuted in AirPods Pro 3 alongside the iPhone 17 hardware last year. SPR AVS is designed to replace or complement Bluetooth with a peer-to-peer encrypted connection offering significantly higher bandwidth, true lossless audio transmission and sub-10ms latency.

Apple has included the necessary hardware but has yet to enable wireless lossless music playback broadly. At present it works only in specific scenarios, such as lossless audio with Apple Vision Pro, and requires the latest Apple devices at both ends.

If the H3 chip does support higher sampling rates, the next AirPods Pro could be the model where Apple finally enables wireless lossless music playback. For listeners who have watched competitors like Sony (LDAC) and Qualcomm (aptX Lossless) push ahead with higher-quality codecs, that would mark a significant shift.

Evolution, Not Revolution

Physically, the design is expected to remain broadly familiar. The current AirPods Pro 3 earbuds weigh 5.55 grams each, carry an IP57 dust- and water-resistant rating, and use silicone ear tips with Apple’s familiar stem-based form factor. Most reports suggest the next model will stay close to that design language.

Still, integrating infrared sensors into each stem will likely require internal reworking. Whether the external appearance changes noticeably remains unclear.

How Much Is It?

Apple’s earbuds and headphones currently range from US$129 to US$549. With AirPods Pro 3 priced at US$249, a higher-end model in the US$299–$349 range would neatly fill the gap.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds4 Pro cost $249.99. Bose QC Ultra Earbuds II cost $299, and Sony’s WF-1000XM6 cost $329.99. That price bracket places Apple directly against Bose and Sony, meaning the company will need meaningful new features to justify the premium.

The Bottom Line

None of this is official. Apple has not confirmed the product and the final name, feature set and pricing remain fluid. For now, the story is built on supply-chain reports, leaks and analyst commentary.

Artist’s impression of a possible AirPods Pro 4 design, based on current rumours and leaks.

Still, credible sources including Kuo, Gurman and Kosutami point toward a clear direction. Apple appears to be preparing a significantly upgraded AirPods Pro model for late 2026.

If the rumours prove accurate, the combination of infrared sensors, a new H3 chip and fully enabled wireless lossless audio could represent the biggest single-generation leap in AirPods history. It would also signal where Apple sees its wearable AI and spatial computing ecosystem heading.

Join the discussion