Apple AirPods with Camera: New Leak Reveals Visual Intelligence Features

The B790 Discovery Inside macOS Tahoe 26.7

Apple is developing a new line of AirPods equipped with integrated cameras under the internal code B790, according to references discovered in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate. Set for potential release as early as September alongside next-generation hardware, the earbuds use Visual Intelligence to capture and interpret real-time environmental data.

The tech giant’s hardware pipeline is moving fast. Deep inside the release candidate build of macOS Tahoe 26.7, software strings and a video file reveal how Apple plans to merge spatial audio hardware with computer vision.

For a company that treats ambient computing as its next big frontier, putting a camera inside an earbud isn’t just a design tweak.

Visual Intelligence and Siri Integration

The leak surfaced when developer Aaron (@aaronp613) highlighted a video file buried in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 RC build. In the footage, a user wearing the unreleased AirPods holds a book in front of the earbuds.

https://x.com/aaronp613/status/2089522745184760112

The system captures the visual data instantly. It feeds that input directly into Apple’s Visual Intelligence framework.

Instead of pulling out an iPhone to scan a restaurant menu or translate a street sign, the user can prompt Siri directly through the hardware. The assistant processes the local environment, answers contextual queries, and stores selected information for later retrieval.

Hardware Validation and September Timeline

Software checks built into the code hint at the engineering hurdles of face-worn cameras. One routine explicitly verifies that the user’s hair isn’t obstructing the lenses. If strands block the field of view, the system triggers a warning to maintain accuracy in spatial analysis.

Internal tracking confirms that project B790 has reached an advanced validation stage. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple could unveil these camera-equipped earbuds as early as September.

That timeline positions the device for a simultaneous launch with the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a rumored foldable iPhone Ultra. Finding these references in macOS Tahoe 26.7 shows that the supporting frameworks are already baked into Apple’s upcoming desktop ecosystem.

Miniaturization Hurdles and Silicon Efficiency

Surveillance Concerns and Public Reaction

If these earbuds launch in September, they will test consumer appetite for ambient recording hardware.