Apple is developing AirPods and Apple Watch with cameras, but their launch is not expected before 2027 — Bloomberg

Apple is working on new versions of AirPods and Apple Watch with built-in cameras. Unfortunately, these devices may not be ready to launch until around 2027, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The company is building new chips for the new devices: "Nevis" for the Apple Watch and "Glennie" for the AirPods. They should be ready by 2027. If the chips are ready earlier, the launch could happen the same year.

Incidentally, last year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple wanted to add infrared cameras to AirPods for improved audio with Vision Pro and other devices. The cameras could also recognize hand movements for gesture control. Mark Gurman added that Apple is also considering using the cameras to transmit data to AI.

For Apple Watch, future models could feature a camera on the screen or near the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch Ultra. The cameras will enable visual intelligence features that can help provide information about the environment and provide more accurate directions.

That is, the cameras in the new devices will not be designed for photos or videos in FaceTime, but will only be used to collect visual data for AI functions.