The AirPods were launched by Apple at the end of 2016, since then the headphones have had several versions, all bringing their share of new features. But the Apple brand could reach an important milestone in 2026. At least that’s what financial analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a specialist at the Cupertino firm, suggests.
According to its latest post on the social network Medium, Apple could add infrared cameras to its AirPods in the coming years. This new feature should improve the user experience, especially when using the Vision Pro.
AirPods to the rescue of the Vision Pro
Concretely, the presence of these cameras, which would be technically very similar to the one present on our iPhone with Face ID, should improve spatial audio. Infrared cameras will be able to detect with better precision the movements of the user’s head.
If we take the example of a person watching a video with the Apple Vision Pro in front of him, if he turns his head to the right or left, the sound experience will be different, as it would be the case in real life with speakers on his television for example. This 3D and live representation of the sound environment is already present on the latest AirPods, but the arrival of infrared cameras should greatly help Apple in the development of this technology.
Foxconn to produce AirPods Pro for 2026
As for Apple’s production line, it is the company Foxconn, one of the main subcontractors of the apple brand, which will be responsible for manufacturing these infrared cameras for the AirPods. According to information from Ming-Chi Kuo, the Taiwanese manufacturer is preparing to produce 10 million pairs of AirPods in the coming months.
This feature should logically be found first on the AirPods Pro. Apple’s highest-end headphones already benefit from deeper integration with the Vision Pro, so it would make sense for them to receive this feature.
The integration of infrared cameras on the headphones could nevertheless have a considerable impact on the price of these headphones. Indeed, such a precise and technical sensor has a price. Apple could therefore considerably increase the price of its AirPods Pro in the coming years with the arrival of this new technology.
To not miss any news on the Journal du Geek, subscribe on Google News. And if you love us, we have a newsletter every morning.
