Work on future AirPods and Apple Watch models featuring built-in cameras seems to be picking up steam, with launches expected sometime in 2027.
Apple is rumored to be working on future AirPods and Apple Watch models that could incorporate built-in cameras, and the development of those devices seems to be accelerating ahead of their tentative launch in 2027, a new report has it.
Mark Gurman reported on Bloomberg that Apple’s silicon team has kicked off development of custom chips that will power future devices, including earbuds and watches with cameras. Custom silicon for the camera-equipped Apple Watch is allegedly codenamed “Nevis”. A bespoke chip for a camera-equipped Apple Watch is reportedly referred to internally as “Glenni.”
First camera-equipped Apple Watch expected in 2027
Gurman says Apple wants the chips ready by around 2027. “The company aims to begin mass production of the processor by the end of next year or in 2027,” reads the report. The timeframe for the chips indicates that the first camera-equipped AirPods and Apple Watch could arrive in roughly the next two years.
But what would AirPods and Apple Watch use built-in cameras for? While FaceTime is always a possibility, it would be impractical on the watch. You’d need to keep your wrist raised when video chatting with a friend to avoid arm fatigue.
A future Apple Watch could incorporate a camera in the screen area or utilize under-panel technology. According to Gurman, an upcoming Apple Watch Ultra could have a tiny camera near the Digital Crown button on the side.
Why put cameras in AirPods?
As for camera-equipped AirPods, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the earbuds will have infrared cameras that would make spatial audio sound even more, well, spatial when using the earbuds with the Vision Pro headset and future devices. Infrared cameras could also identify hand movement and enable in-air gestures like the hand gestures for navigating the Vision Pro headset.
Apple could add another pair of cameras to future AirPods to collect spatial data and feed it to AI algorithms to help Apple Intelligence features like visual intelligence work better and provide more accurate information about your surroundings. Better directions is another use case for cameras in watches and earbuds.
Custom chips for AI servers and smart glasses
Gurman says that Apple’s silicon team is also developing new chips for other future gadgets, including its first smart glasses, in-house designed servers for Apple Intelligence and more powerful Mac models.
