Camera-equipped AirPods Pro 3 rumor turns out to be a false leak! Supply chain challenges remain unresolved, Apple (AAPL.US) still targets a 2027 release for its new AI earphones

According to information from Zhihui Finance APP, despite a recent leak at Apple (AAPL.US) suggesting that camera-equipped AirPods could launch ahead of schedule, the product is still on track to be released in 2027.

Reports from early May indicated that this new headphone, designed to drive the iPhone maker further into the AI wearable device market, had long been planned for launch this year and had already entered advanced internal testing with Apple employees this spring.

However, according to reports in mid-June, when the company sought to begin production of the headphones in the summer, supply chain and software challenges led Apple to postpone the product until 2027.

Earlier this week, a developer version of Mac computer software updates unexpectedly included references to several upcoming Apple products, including a video showing camera-equipped AirPods in action.

The video, first published by MacRumors, confirmed earlier reports that this AirPods model would rely on "Visual Intelligence" — a feature from Apple that uses cameras to analyze physical objects in the real world and take appropriate actions.

As Apple’s September iPhone launch event approaches, the presence of this leaked content in upcoming software has sparked speculation that the new AirPods could debut soon.

However, according to sources who requested anonymity due to discussions of unreleased products, technical challenges remain unresolved, and camera AirPods have not been added to the company’s 2026 release schedule. Apple still expects the headphones to launch in 2027.

Camera-equipped AirPods have also sparked privacy concerns on social media. Some users are uneasy about Apple offering a device that could potentially record video or take photos without people’s knowledge. Some have even started calling the device "pervertpods."

However, according to informed sources, the cameras on the device will be low-resolution sensors. They are not intended for photo or video capture; instead, they are designed to scan the surrounding environment and provide contextual information to the Siri digital assistant and other AI tools.

Apple has long made privacy one of its main marketing focuses and hopes to avoid the sort of backlash that Meta faced over its controversial smart glasses.

In the development of these new AirPods, Apple has been working on two versions: one codenamed B790 and the other called B798.

The B790 version was on the 2026 roadmap until recently and is a modified AirPods Pro 3, released last year, with added sensors and AI features. According to sources, the version shown in the video is precisely this one. The B798 version is a completely new generation of AirPods Pro with a camera.

If these new AirPods eventually launch next year, they would become part of Apple’s lineup of new products in 2027, which includes the company’s first smart glasses. As part of its AI wearable strategy, Apple is also developing a camera-equipped pendant that can be worn around the neck or clipped to a shirt.

Even without camera-equipped AirPods, incoming CEO John Ternus will introduce several major new product categories in his first holiday season, including the company’s first foldable iPhone and a smart home display for the newly upgraded AI Siri.

Additionally, Apple has been developing its first touchscreen MacBook, a smart home security camera, a version of its smart display with a robotic arm, a brand-new set-top box, and an updated HomePod mini. It also plans to launch several new Macs and new iPads with faster processors. The launch of these products is expected to stretch from this autumn into late next year.