Is Apple really working on AirPods with cameras? Here is what latest leaks suggest
Follow UsA leaked video shows how Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods may work.
"With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later," says the voiceover text in the video.
The cameras on the AirPods are expected to send information about the user's surroundings to Visual Intelligence.
Apple is reportedly preparing for its upcoming hardware launch event, which is expected to be held next month. At the event, Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro models, along with a foldable iPhone. There are also reports that suggest the company may be working on AirPods with cameras. Now, a new leak has added more weight to these reports. MacRumors has found a short video in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate that appears to show how Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods may work.
SurveyIn the leaked demo, shared by MacRumors’ Aaron on X (formerly Twitter), a man holds a book in front of the AirPods so that the camera can see its title. “With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later,” says the voiceover text.
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Here is your first look at AirPods with Cameras in action using Visual Intelligence.
— Aaron (@aaronp613) August 18, 2026
This video file came from macOS 26.7 RC pic.twitter.com/yo7RI4MCeu
The cameras on the AirPods are expected to send information about the user’s surroundings to Visual Intelligence. This would allow Siri to answer questions about objects and other things around the user.
The leaked software also includes a direct reference to setting up Visual Intelligence on the AirPods. This suggests that the feature may indeed be designed for the upcoming device instead of being just an internal test.
The camera-equipped AirPods could also alert users if the cameras are blocked. For example, hair covering the AirPods could affect how well the cameras see the surroundings. A warning in the software says, “To get the most accurate information about things in your environment, make sure AirPods are not covered.”
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If reports are accurate, Apple may introduce the camera-equipped AirPods at the same event where it unveils its upcoming iPhone models. However, Apple has not officially confirmed the product or its launch plans.
The macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate reportedly contains several other references to camera-equipped AirPods, along with mentions of other unreleased Apple products.
