The AirPods Pro 3 They've only been on the market a short time, but everything points to Apple not having said its last word. Several reports agree that the company is working on a second variant of the product, more expensive and geared towards launching a new category within the ecosystem: Headphones capable of "seeing" the environment thanks to integrated infrared cameras.
The arrival of infrared cameras in Apple's AirPods
The proposal may sound strange at first, but it fits with the strategy Apple has followed in recent years: bringing Apple Intelligence-powered features beyond the iPhone and Mac, bringing them closer to everyday devices like headphones. According to Mark Gurman, these external cameras, combined with advanced AI modelswill allow AirPods interpret what surrounds the user and return contextual information, from directions to situational alerts.
The introduction of these sensors opens the door to a completely different type of interaction. Instead of relying so heavily on pressure-sensitive buttons on the temples, the AirPods could respond to hand gestures This is something that leaker Instant Digital has already mentioned, as it would free up the current controls—which are becoming overloaded with functions—and, at the same time, bring the headphones closer to the interaction style that Apple has begun to popularize with the Vision Pro.
Beyond this new interaction system and visual capabilities, The rest of the design would remain virtually identical to that of the current AirPods Pro 3. This includes the improved audio achieved with the latest generation, as well as the new active noise cancellation system. The biggest difference will be the price: the model with cameras will be positioned in a higher price range, mirroring what Apple did with the AirPods 4 by offering versions with and without noise cancellation.
If the rumors are correct, the company is betting on further diversify the AirPods range and transform its Pro model into a device that transcends audio. The question now is whether users will be ready to wear headphones that not only listen… but also see.