Apple delays camera AirPods to late 2027 amid AI struggles

Apple Pushes Camera-Equipped AirPods to Late 2027, Pairing Them With Anniversary iPhone and Second-Gen Foldable

Apple is planning a sweeping product launch for late 2027 that will bundle camera-equipped AirPods with a 20th anniversary iPhone and a second-generation foldable device, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. All three products are currently being tested internally with iOS 28, the iPhone software update code-named “Bell” that is slated for next year, though Apple has noted the timing “remains fluid and could change.”macrumors

Camera AirPods Delayed by AI Struggles

The camera AirPods, code-named B798, were originally planned for release in the first half of 2026 but have been pushed back repeatedly as Apple grappled with its next-generation Siri. The earbuds feature low-resolution infrared cameras embedded in elongated stems that feed visual data to Apple’s AI assistant rather than capture photos or videos — functioning as what Gurman has described as “the eyes for Siri.”9to5mac

In May, Bloomberg reported the AirPods had reached the design validation testing stage with a near-final design, and a September 2026 launch alongside iOS 27 appeared possible. However, Apple’s ongoing difficulties developing visual AI models capable of reliably identifying objects in a user’s surroundings have now pushed the product to late 2027.x

Anniversary iPhone and Foldable iPhone Take Shape

The 20th anniversary iPhone, expected to mark two decades since the original iPhone’s 2007 debut, will feature a curved, mostly glass design with no visible display cutouts — eliminating the Dynamic Island — and a front-facing camera hidden beneath the screen. Apple is preparing two size options similar to the current iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max dimensions, and will pair them with a 2-nanometer A21 chip.theverge

Alongside the anniversary models, Apple plans to release a second-generation foldable iPhone. The company’s first foldable is on track for its September 2026 debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.macrumors

A Broader AI Wearables Strategy

The trio of 2027 devices represents Apple’s broader push into AI-powered hardware. The company is also developing smart glasses under the code name N50, though that product was recently delayed to late 2027 as well. Apple struck a partnership with Google to use Gemini models in rebuilding Siri’s architecture, a decision born from what Bloomberg described as an internal “crisis” over Apple Intelligence’s underperformance. The revamped Siri debuted at WWDC earlier this month alongside iOS 27, but the more advanced visual capabilities needed for camera-equipped wearables remain in development.idropnews