AirPods Pro 3 can have a built-in camera

Apple may equip AirPods Pro 3 with an infrared camera to work better with Vision Pro glasses.

AirPods Pro 2nd generation headphones. Photo: TechCrunch.

In a post on June 30, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International Securities said that Apple plans to produce “AirPods with a camera module” by 2026. Earlier in February, Bloomberg also reported that Apple is developing AirPods headphones with built-in cameras.

According to Kuo, AirPods models will be equipped with an infrared camera, similar to the part used for Face ID on iPhones and iPads. This feature can help the device work better with the Vision Pro, along with the next glasses.

“The new AirPods are expected to work with Vision Pro and the next Apple glasses models in the future, to enhance the 360-degree audio experience and strengthen the spatial computing ecosystem.

For example, when watching a video on the Vision Pro and wearing the new AirPods, if the user turns their head in the other direction, the sound source from that position will be enhanced to enhance the spatial audio/computing experience,” Kuo wrote.

Rumor has it that the infrared camera on the AirPods can also detect changes in the environment, helping to “control gestures in the air, enhancing interaction between the user and the device”.

Kuo noted that Foxconn is in charge of the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase for the infrared camera on the AirPods. This company aims to produce 18-20 million modules/year, equivalent to 10 million pairs of headphones.

In February, Bloomberg reported that AirPods with cameras are just one of the wearable ideas being studied by Apple. Some of the other products include Ray-Ban smart glasses, smart rings, and the futuristic design of the Apple Watch.