Apple Glasses and Camera-Equipped AirPods: Set for 2027?

Tech insider Mark Gurman of Bloomberg has reported that Apple is quietly developing two unconventional new products: a pair of smart AR glasses and even AirPods with built-in cameras, with a tentative release year of 2027. These smart glasses would bring many of the augmented reality features of Apple’s Vision Pro into a lightweight eyewear form factor. According to Gurman’s report, the glasses are expected to include multiple cameras, microphones, and speakers — somewhat akin to Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories — to enable capturing photos or video, handling phone calls, and overlaying digital information onto the wearer’s field of view. In essence, this would be Apple’s foray into everyday AR eyewear, enabling interaction with digital content superimposed on the real world in a far more natural way than a bulky headset like the Vision Pro.

Camera-equipped AirPods, too?

Perhaps even more surprising is the idea of AirPods with cameras built in. Details on the AirPods concept are scarce, but it suggests Apple is exploring ways to incorporate augmented reality or lifelogging features into earbuds. One could imagine an AirPods case or even the earbuds’ stems housing tiny cameras that capture point-of-view photos/video (what the wearer sees), or working in tandem with other devices for enhanced environmental awareness. It’s an unusual concept that has sparked curiosity among analysts. Both the AR glasses and the camera AirPods are reportedly in early development and may not arrive until 2027, if at all. However, these projects indicate Apple’s continued commitment to augmented reality — extending AR capabilities beyond the Vision Pro and into more everyday devices in the coming years. With such glasses and smart earbuds, Apple would be envisioning a mainstream AR ecosystem where its technology seamlessly blends into daily life.