Apple AirPods with cameras surface in leaked video

Apple has been rumored to be working on AirPods with built-in cameras for some time now. Despite a recent rumor claiming that the so-called AirPods Ultra project has been cancelled, a new video has surfaced showing the camera-equipped AirPods in action.

The demo video for the camera-equipped AirPods was discovered by MacRumors in the latest macOS 26.7 release candidate.

In the short clip, the wearer can be seen picking up a book and asking a question. A voiceover then says, “With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later.”

This aligns with previous reports claiming that the AirPods' cameras will primarily be used by Siri for Visual Intelligence. The feature is expected to let the assistant analyze the wearer's surroundings through the cameras and provide relevant information. It will reportedly not be able to capture photos.

Here is your first look at AirPods with Cameras in action using Visual Intelligence.

This video file came from macOS 26.7 RC pic.twitter.com/yo7RI4MCeu

— Aaron (@aaronp613) August 18, 2026

The macOS 26.7 release candidate reportedly also contained direct references to setting up Visual Intelligence on AirPods, along with the codename B790 for the upcoming AirPods. The publication also discovered an alert that says, “To get the most accurate information about things in your environment, make sure AirPods are not covered.”

The publication believes Apple could announce the camera-equipped AirPods alongside the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September. However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple may have delayed the AirPods until late 2027.

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