AirPods Ultra With Infrared Cameras and Apple Intelligence Expected to Launch Fall 2026

Apple's next premium earbuds are shaping up to be a major departure from anything on the market. Multiple reports now point to a new AirPods Pro variant with built-in infrared cameras, possibly branded as "AirPods Ultra", launching alongside the iPhone 18 this fall.

What the Cameras Do

• Not for photos or video — the infrared cameras will sense the environment around you, not capture images
• Gesture control: Recognize hand movements to control music, calls, and Siri without touching the earbuds or your phone
• Spatial sensing: Provide environmental data to a connected iPhone, enhancing Apple Intelligence and Visual Intelligence features in iOS 27
• Vision Pro integration: Improve spatial audio when paired with Apple Vision Pro

New H3 Chip

The camera-equipped AirPods are expected to ship with a new H3 chip, replacing the H2 used in both AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3. The H3 should bring lower latency, improved noise cancellation processing, and the computational power needed for on-device camera analysis.

What This Means for Buyers

If you're considering the AirPods Pro 3 at $199 on Amazon, this rumor changes the calculus. The AirPods Ultra would be a higher-end tier — likely priced above $299 — not a replacement for the current AirPods Pro 3. If you need earbuds now, the AirPods Pro 3 remain an excellent buy. If you want cutting-edge spatial features and can wait until September, holding off may be worth it. Alternatives like the Sony WF-1000XM6 at $279 offer class-leading ANC without the Apple ecosystem lock-in.