Apple is pressing ahead with plans to release its first camera-equipped AirPods sooner than expected, with one version potentially debuting as early as next month, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The tech giant has been developing the camera-enabled earbuds for years under the internal codename B798, a higher-end model currently slated for a 2027 release. But in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman revealed that Apple is also working on a second variant, codenamed B790, that is further along in development and has been on the company’s internal roadmap for a launch as early as this year.

“For years, Apple has been working on the camera AirPods under the code name B798,” Gurman wrote. “This device was initially scheduled for release in 2026 before being postponed until 2027. But Apple has also been developing another version under the code name B790 (Apple famously creates competing versions of the same product internally).”

The B790 device appears to be closer to production, with references to the product already surfacing in iOS 27 code. This is not the first time the variant has been spotted; last month, developer Sam Henri Gold discovered related code in the iOS 27 beta 2 release.

Apple’s strategy of running multiple internal projects in parallel is well-documented, with the company often pitting competing teams against each other before choosing a final design. However, it remains unclear whether both the B790 and B798 versions will ultimately make it to market, or how the two models will differ.

ModelCodenameExpected LaunchStatusCamera AirPods (Standard)B790As early as September 2026References found in iOS 27 codeCamera AirPods (Advanced)B7982027Delayed from original 2026 target

Note: Launch dates are based on reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and have not been confirmed by Apple.

The camera-equipped AirPods are expected to make Visual Intelligence a core feature, allowing the device to interpret and interact with the world around the wearer. Previous reports suggest the earbuds will feature slightly longer stems than the AirPods Pro to accommodate the camera module, along with an LED indicator that lights up when data is being transmitted to the cloud.

The potential September debut would align with Apple’s traditional product launch cycle, though the company has not confirmed any plans. If the timeline holds, the camera AirPods could arrive alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, which is also rumored for a September unveiling.

Apple’s push into camera-equipped wearables comes as the company looks to expand its ecosystem beyond the iPhone. The new device would mark a significant step in Apple’s wearable strategy, potentially opening up new use cases for augmented reality and AI-powered features without requiring a dedicated headset.

For investors, the accelerated timeline could provide a fresh catalyst for Apple’s wearables segment, which reported $7.9 billion in revenue in the fiscal third quarter, up 6% year over year. The company has been seeking new growth drivers as it navigates currency headwinds and rising memory costs that have weighed on recent results.

Analysts note that the camera AirPods represent a novel product category that could help differentiate Apple’s audio lineup from competitors. However, questions remain about the practical applications of cameras on earbuds, including privacy considerations and battery life implications.

Note: Camera-equipped wearables already carry real privacy baggage that any camera AirPods would inherit. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, the closest existing comparison, have sold more than seven million pairs and hold roughly 82% of the global smart-glasses market as of the second half of 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. But the product has also drawn a March 2026 federal lawsuit filed by the Clarkson Law Firm in the Northern District of California alleging Meta marketed the glasses as privacy-focused while routing recorded footage through contractors abroad for human review, a second US suit from people recorded without their knowledge, and open investigations by the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office and Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Any camera-enabled AirPods would likely face comparable scrutiny well before the privacy questions Apple’s own analysts are already raising get resolved.

Gurman’s report did not specify pricing for either model, and Apple has remained silent on the matter. The company typically unveils new products at its September event, with the iPhone 18 series expected to take center stage.