According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, these earbuds will use sensors to provide Siri with visual context of a wearer’s surroundings, marking a significant shift toward AI-focused wearables.
The timeline for Apple’s foray into visual wearables is shifting. While the flagship camera-equipped model, codenamed B798, was originally expected in 2026, it has reportedly slipped to a late 2027 release. However, a parallel project is moving faster. Mark Gurman reports that a separate model, codenamed B790, is further along in development and could debut this year.
Evidence for the B790’s imminent arrival is appearing in software. Developer Sam Henri Gold found traces of the codename in the second iOS 27 developer beta, and references have appeared in iOS 27 code. If Apple follows its typical release cadence, these earbuds could launch alongside the iPhone 18 in September.
B790 vs. B798: Two Paths to Visual Intelligence
Apple is not betting on a single design. The company is famously creates competing versions of the same product internally
, according to Gurman. This has resulted in two distinct tracks for the camera-enabled earbuds.
- B798: The more advanced version, now slated for late 2027. This model was delayed because the visual AI models and the upgraded Siri required to power it were not yet ready.
- B790: A version that is closer to production and listed on internal roadmaps for a potential 2026 launch.
There is a lingering debate over exactly what the B790 will be. While some reports suggest it will bring cameras to the lineup this year, others, including analysis from Techtimes and AppleInsider, suggest the B790 might be an incremental upgrade of the current AirPods Pro without cameras. This theory is supported by the internal numbering; the AirPods Pro 3 launched in September 2025 as B788, making B790 a logical sequential variant.
Siri’s Eyes: How the Cameras Function
These are not earbuds for vlogging or photography. The cameras are designed as sensors to feed visual data into Apple Intelligence, specifically to support Visual Intelligence tools. The goal is to give Siri a live view of the world so it can provide situational help, such as identifying a building a user is standing in front of or translating a foreign sign.
To manage the inevitable privacy backlash, Apple is incorporating hardware tells. A small LED indicator will illuminate when the cameras are active and sending data to the cloud, a design choice mirroring the green light on MacBooks. This is a critical addition, as Apple has reportedly considered delaying its smart glasses due to privacy concerns and misuse of similar devices from Meta.
AirPods Ultra and the Pricing Gamble
Adding camera hardware and AI processing will likely push the price beyond the standard Pro line. Because of the expected cost increase, Gurman reports that Apple is weighing “AirPods Ultra” branding to justify a premium price point.
| Model | Estimated Price/Status | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods 4 | $129 (Start) | Compact wireless earbuds |
| AirPods Pro 3 | US$249 | Standard high-end audio |
| AirPods Max | $549 | Over-ear headphones |
| AirPods Ultra (Rumored) | Above US$249 | AI-powered cameras / B798 or B790 |
The physical design may also change. Reports suggest these models will have slightly longer stems than the AirPods Pro to accommodate the camera hardware.
A Broader AI Wearables Strategy
The camera-equipped AirPods are not a standalone experiment but part of a larger AI wearables push. This ecosystem includes an AI pendant—an AirTag-sized accessory without a display that uses an always-on camera and microphone for Siri commands—and smart glasses, both of which have reached an advanced testing stage.
This strategy aligns with a high-stakes roadmap for the iPhone. The B798 AirPods are reportedly targeted to launch in late 2027, coinciding with a second-generation foldable iPhone and a 20th-anniversary model.
The ultimate success of the B790 or B798 depends on whether Apple can make the “visual context” useful without compromising battery life or user privacy. For now, the most immediate signal will be the September event; if the B790 is as far along as the iOS 27 code suggests, the world may see Siri’s eyes before the end of the year.
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