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The AirPods Pro 3 were just launched on September 19, but Apple is reportedly already developing the next version — and that device could have cameras.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is also working on AirPods 5. There is no timeline for when the new AirPods Pro and AirPods 5 will be released. It’s also uncertain what the upgraded AirPods Pro will be called, whether it’s AirPods Pro 4 or just AirPods Pro 3.
Read more: AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Should you upgrade?
Apple is expected to launch several items early next year, including the iPhone 17e, new MacBook Air models, a revamped iPad Air, and a budget iPad.
An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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If this is true, the addition of cameras in the AirPods Pro is in line with… Prediction From TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said in June 2024 that “Apple plans to mass produce new AirPods with camera modules by 2026.”
Kuo then said that the cameras will be infrared, which may be advanced enough to allow people to control the device simply by making gestures in the air. Kuo said the camera is similar to the iPhone Face ID receiver.
More from CNET: The best AirPods of 2025
Gorman also reported that the upcoming AirPods Pro will get the H3 audio chip, which CNET Executive Editor Dave Carnoy said He hoped In his September review of the AirPods Pro 3. The chip — Apple’s latest processor — is designed to reduce lag time and improve sound quality.
The names and numbers of the different AirPods can be confusing. The AirPods Pro 3 were released in September, and the cheaper AirPods 4 were released in September 2024. According to Gurman’s report, the next AirPods Pro should be released sometime in 2026, but it’s unknown if they will be called AirPods Pro 4. It’s also possible that the AirPods 5 will be released in 2026.
Do we really need gestures in the air?
YouTube user John Rettinger The JFL Network’s says he’s not sure whether including cameras in the AirPods Pro is necessary, but adds: “I’d like to be proven wrong.”
“It’s hard not to think about that BMW gestures inside the car “It was completely unnecessary,” Rettinger told CNET. “It’s nice to have more choices for the consumer, but it’s hard to imagine a world where we point to changing music tracks instead of just taking out our phones.”
Gurman’s report also stated that Apple is working on new AirPods 5. Gorman does not expect Apple to add a heart rate sensor to the model, but the company could offer other health monitoring features for some of its products.
However, Apple has dominated the audiophile earbuds market Sales decreased annually Since its peak during the Covid-19 pandemic.
