According to a leaker and prototype collector that goes by “Kosutami,” Apple’s next-generation AirPods Pro will implement IR cameras to possibly enable spatial awareness and ‘visual intelligence.’ This corroborates an earlier rumor from Ming-Chi Kuo, who believed that those infrared cameras could be used for hand gesture recognition and allow for a more immersive spatial audio experience when connected to the Vision Pro.
Previous rumors suggested that this upcoming AirPods Pro would be a more premium option on top of the current AirPods Pro 3, and thus, it would be priced higher to fill in more price points. However, today’s report contrasts that claim, saying that the upcoming AirPods Pro would start at the same $249 price point as today’s AirPods Pro 3.
The current lineup of AirPods consists of the following:
- AirPods 4: $129
- AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation: $179
- AirPods Pro 3: $249
- AirPods Max: $549
If Apple were to have an additional AirPods Pro model that has IR cameras for a higher starting price, this would further narrow the price gap between the AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max, so it would still be a possibility, considering that we’ve been seeing higher-end Bluetooth earbuds and/or AI-equipped headphones from other competitors.
Still, Apple just announced the AirPods Pro 3 last September, so having another hardware refresh for the same model would be unusual since Apple usually waits about three years before updating an AirPods product. However, Apple did debut the AirPods Pro 2 in September 2022, and the company introduced a revision with a USB-C charging case the following year. Although the report hasn’t indicated when these upcoming AirPods Pro model would be announced, it’s likely that they will make their debut in September, as Apple usually updates its AirPods models in that month in the past.
