Apple Still Planning AirPods With Tiny Cameras

[Corefile]

Coming in 2026: "EU Parliament rules that Apple must allow 3rd party apps access to AirPod cameras"

The EU keeps the playing field level for all.

 

[TwoBytes]

Give me more bass, not more cameras!

 

[dannyyankou]

Forget about AI, how about a more practical use of the cameras? Like what about biometrics in your ear, so that you can ask Siri to do stuff that requires unlocking your iPhone?

 

[1037]

Bit of an oversight and another example of Tim Cook launching half a solution rather than getting everything in place before launch.

Kind of like releasing a new Studio without a new Studio Display.

 

[JoshuaBru]

wouldn't that require more battery life in an already small form factor device

Shhh Tim Cook doesn’t care what you want. Battery life will be mediocre. Features will be lacklustre. Price tag will increase by 20%

 

[jlc1978]

I doubt you will be able to stream anything with these.

I know, but imagine what could be done if you could; for example using AI to identify objects and people, much like those MIT students did with Meta glasses, except it would be much less noticeable that you have cameras.

 

[wdfly]

if you could hear the look on my face you would smell how sad i am

 

[jarman92]

The cameras would technically be infrared sensors.

So, not cameras.

 

[TechWhisperer]

It’s a stupid feature. Who is going to buy a Vision Pro. We all know how this is going to end. It will never see the light of day.

 

[arc of the universe]

Give me more bass, not more cameras!

more cowbell

 

[SoldOnApple]

wouldn't that require more battery life in an already small form factor device

I suspect Apple has spent a fortune on researching low energy cameras for the Vision project alone. And look at the simple IR cameras on the Wii and Switch product range, they draw practically no power and run all the time in some games.

 

[BenGoren]

And what happens if a tree falls in a forest?

Ooh! Ooh! I know this one!

… if I remember right, it means that the constipated bear gets excommunicated …

b&

 

[currentinterest]

Then why would one use AirPods with it?

Primarily Airplanes and when one does not want to disturb others with "leaking" audio. When using mine at home I do not use my AirPods Pro.

 

[0049190]

I know, but imagine what could be done if you could; for example using AI to identify objects and people, much like those MIT students did with Meta glasses, except it would be much less noticeable that you have cameras.

Do you realise how creepy that sounds?

 

[antiprotest]

Apple: We still plan to put cameras that you can stick in your ears...some day. We know you'll love it.

Meanwhile, in every other company on earth, from teenagers running a side hustle on their laptops, and from startups to big tech...

 

[ab2c4]

I have AirPod Pros first gen and while they are decent my top priority in my next earbuds will be music sound quality and I keep thinking I need to look at another brand for that(Sony, Sennheiser, etc).

 

[mxrider88]

Powered by Siri

 

[McScooby]

Yeah, just get lossless & Hi-res on them.

 

[TomaxXamot]

… thus making the AirPods heavier, more fragile, and more expensive.and worsening battery life. Another feature few will use, like the camera button on the 16 Pro.

Or like the heart rate sensors in the PowerBeats Pro 2’s.

 

[John_Blackthorne]

I have low confidence after this Apple Intelligence debacle. In everything Apple--not just this.

 

[ronno]

Is anyone asking for cameras in their ears?
Asking for a friend.

 

[nickbatz]

wouldn't that require more battery life in an already small form factor device

Exactly, in fact I for one would buy new AirPods Pro if they had a longer battery life.

It's true that they charge up most of the way in a few minutes, but I listen to things in bed and run out of battery with them all the time.

 

[reyesmac]

When are people going to reject adding more spy equipment to the things they carry around and use in private?

 

[SeaFox]

"For example, when a user is watching a video with Vision Pro and wearing this new AirPods, if users turn their heads to look in a specific direction, the sound source in that direction can be emphasized to enhance the spatial audio/computing experience," wrote Kuo.

Why is a camera in the AirPods needed for this? Doesn't the Vision Pro have to be aware of where the user turns their head already -- to adjust the visuals in the headset?

 

[steve09090]

do we really need camera's on our airpods?

I want to know when my ears need a clean. So yeah, if the cameras face inwards, it could be helpful.