The latest AirPods Pro may have just launched, but speculation is already mounting about the next pair, which could include infrared cameras and AI-powered features.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a new H3 chip is in development to reduce audio lag and improve sound quality.

The chip is also expected to support on-device AI, enabling features like context-aware responses and enhanced spatial audio for AR and VR.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first predicted in 2024 that future AirPods would include camera modules by 2026. Gurman then reported that Apple was developing the built-in cameras earlier this year.

The idea of tiny cameras in earbuds has sparked mixed reactions.

Some see it as a natural evolution of wearable devices, while privacy advocates have raised concerns about the implications of outward-facing sensors.

The AirPods Pro 3, released last month

The cameras are expected to be infrared, similar to Face ID sensors, allowing gesture detection, spatial tracking and more precise audio experiences.

These camera features are likely to appear in the premium AirPods Pro line, rather than the standard AirPods 5.

The upcoming AirPods 5 models are expected to receive incremental upgrades such as improved battery life, better connectivity and potentially new health sensors like an ear-canal temperature reader.

The release timeline for the next AirPods Pro is still unclear.

With the Pro 3 launching last month, sources suggest a camera-equipped model could arrive in 2026, although a full generational update, potentially called AirPods Pro 4, might not appear until 2027 or 2028.