AirPods Pro 4 might include an unprecedented feature for wireless earbuds, accordingto a new leak: built-in cameras capable of seeing the environment around the wearer.
AirPods Pro 4 cameras could see around you
Apple just keeps making AirPods better. Now, a new rumor says the next-generation pro earbuds will come equipped with cameras that can perceive a user’s surroundings. That’s according to leaker Kosutami, who is known for collecting Apple prototypes.
This revelation adds new context to previous reports from supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who indicated that 2026 AirPods Pro would feature at least one infrared camera in what he described as a “more significant” hardware upgrade than the one that brought a heart-rate monitor to AirPods Pro 3. (Read Cult of Mac’s review: Why AirPods Pro 3 are my new favorite headphones.)
Kuo previously suggested these cameras could enable hand gesture recognition and deliver an enhanced spatial audio experience when paired with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Multiple models may be coming
Apple’s AirPods Pro roadmap remains somewhat unclear. Kosutami says the camera-equipped model will retail for $249, matching the current AirPods Pro 3 price point.
However, Chinese leaker Instant Digital suggests a different scenario. Rather than replacing 2025’s AirPods Pro 3, the 2026 model with infrared cameras could be a pricier, high-end variant sold alongside the existing version.
This approach would mirror Apple’s current strategy with AirPods 4, which offers two versions at $129 and $179. Adding a premium tier between the $249 AirPods Pro 3 and $549 AirPods Max would also help Apple compete with high-end offerings from premium brands.
What else is coming
Beyond cameras, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported that Apple’s silicon team is developing an H3 chip for future AirPods Pro. That promises reduced latency and improved audio quality over the current H2 chip. Apple also filed patents describing how earbud cameras could function as proximity sensors. So they would detect whether they’re in your ear or on a surface.
Health-tracking features are also expanding. Building on the heart-rate monitoring introduced in AirPods Pro 3, Apple is exploring adding temperature sensors to future models. That could extend health capabilities beyond just the Pro lineup.
The timing for these advanced AirPods remains uncertain. But most reports point to a 2026 launch. If Apple follows its typical pattern, an announcement would likely come at the company’s annual iPhone event in September.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
