The devices are designed to feed visual data to an AI assistant like Siri rather than capture photos.
Apple is quietly advancing its wearables roadmap, pressing ahead with plans to introduce camera technology directly into its popular earbud line according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. While the higher-end model has faced timeline shifts, internal software references indicate a faster-moving alternative could debut much sooner than previously anticipated.
Internal Codenames B790 and B798 Reveal Split Launch Timelines
For years, Apple has pursued camera-enabled earbuds under the internal project designation B798. That advanced variant was initially targeted for a 2026 release before being pushed back to 2027. However, Apple routinely runs competing internal versions in parallel during development.
That internal competition brought a second, faster-moving option to light under the codename B790. References to the B790 model have been spotted directly within iOS 27 beta code, indicating that production is further along than its delayed counterpart.
Visual Intelligence Replaces Traditional Photography
Despite housing integrated optical hardware, these upcoming earbuds are not built for taking pictures or recording traditional video. Instead, the onboard sensors are engineered to capture visual data of the wearer’s surroundings to power an onboard AI assistant, functioning similarly to a real-time camera feed approach used by platforms like Gemini Live.
“For years, Apple has been working on the camera AirPods under the code name B798. This device was initially scheduled for release in 2026 before being postponed until 2027. But Apple has also been developing another version under the code name B790 (Apple famously creates competing versions of the same product internally).”
Mark Gurman, Bloomberg
The visual feed feeds directly into features like the upgraded Siri AI, allowing the assistant to understand and reason about what the user is looking at. Design adjustments are expected to accommodate the new components, with industry reports suggesting slightly longer stems than standard AirPods Pro models alongside an onboard LED privacy indicator that illuminates when data transmits to the cloud.
Wearables Growth and Market Context
An accelerated wearables launch arrives as Apple seeks fresh revenue catalysts for its hardware division. The company’s wearables segment brought in $7.9 billion in revenue during the fiscal third quarter, marking a 6% year-over-year increase while navigating currency pressures and climbing component costs.
Integrating cameras into audio gear also places Apple squarely into a contentious privacy landscape already navigated by competitors.
Unresolved Pricing and Expected Announcement Windows
Apple has not confirmed pricing or official release dates for either camera-enabled variant. While standard audio-only AirPods will remain available for listeners, market analysts anticipate that camera-equipped models will command a price higher than the current $249 AirPods Pro.
If the September timeline holds, the B790 model could make its first public appearance alongside the iPhone 18 series. Whether both internal projects ultimately reach store shelves or how the feature set differs definitively between the B790 and B798 remains to be seen as development finalizes.
