AirPods Pro 4 Could Feature Cameras to 'See Around You'

Source: MacRumors

Key Details

• Camera‑enabled earbuds – Kosutami posted on X that the next AirPods Pro will have cameras in each earbud, allowing the device to see around the user.
• Infrared (IR) camera – Supply‑chain analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo says the 2026 AirPods Pro will feature at least one tiny IR camera, which could enable hand‑gesture recognition and an enhanced spatial‑audio experience when paired with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
• Pricing – Kosutami notes the new model will retain the current $249 price point, contrasting with earlier rumors that suggested a higher‑priced, secondary version of the AirPods Pro 3.
• Variant strategy – The Chinese leaker Instant Digital corroborates the camera rumor and adds that the 2026 AirPods Pro will likely be a premium variant of the AirPods Pro 3 (released in 2025), meaning both models could coexist. Apple already sells two versions of the AirPods 4 at $129 and $179, making a tiered approach plausible.

Context & Timeline

• Kuo reported in Sept. 2025 that Apple plans a 2026 successor to the AirPods Pro 3, which would be unusual because Apple typically waits ~3 years for major AirPods hardware changes.
• Historically, Apple announces new AirPods alongside its September iPhone event, so a second‑half‑year launch is likely.

Possible Market Position

• Current lineup prices: $129 (AirPods 4), $179 (AirPods 4 +), $249 (AirPods Pro 3), $549 (AirPods Max).
• Adding a high‑end Bluetooth earbud between the $249 Pro and $549 Max would align Apple with premium competitors such as Bang & Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bose.

Image

Image source: MacRumors

Sources

• Kosutami’s X post
• Ming‑Chi Kuo on IR camera
• Instant Digital corroboration
• Historical AirPods timeline & pricing (various MacRumors roundup pages)