Report: Mini camera for Apple Watch and AirPods in planning
It is a foregone conclusion that Apple's earbuds will soon be equipped with sensors. Now an old camera rumor has been revived – also for the Apple Watch.
AirPods Pro: Soon also "GuckPods"?
(Image: Apple)
There has been speculation for some time that Apple may be looking into installing cameras in its AirPods earbuds. Now there is new information on how this could be implemented. According to the financial news agency Bloomberg, the aim is apparently to be able to scan and describe the surroundings, similar to the iPhone's Visual Intelligence function. Interesting: In addition to the AirPods, Apple could also equip its Apple Watch with a mini camera to give it "similar functionality". Until now, the manufacturer's computer watches have never had image recognition; instead, various sensors are installed, such as for movement, blood oxygen, 1-channel ECG and heart rate.
Sensors in Apple earbuds for the first time
The fact that the AirPods could have sensors for the first time in the future is already foreseeable from previous developments. The recently released Powerbeats Pro 2 can measure the heart rate directly on the ear using special optics, although Apple is giving the Apple Watch the edge due to its accuracy during simultaneous operation. A camera in AirPods could also be used for gesture control in addition to image recognition to explain and interact with the environment.
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Last year, well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had already predicted that Apple could install infrared cameras to enable "gesture control in the air". Furthermore, It is clear that Apple is interested in Meta's approach, whose Ray-Ban smart glasses are said to be selling quite well. Apple's initial idea is to launch smartglasses without a display, but "real" AR glasses remain the fundamental goal.
Product innovation plan for 2027
However, it is unlikely that AirPods and Apple Watch with camera will be released immediately. According to Bloomberg, the products are part of Apple's production innovation plan for the coming years, more precisely for 2027. It is therefore possible that three products with visual intelligence will be released at the same time: in addition to AirPods and Apple Watch, the aforementioned smart glasses without a screen.
Before that, however, Apple still has to solve a few problems with its in-house AI system Apple Intelligence, including its voice assistant Siri. Nevertheless, a research team at the company revealed just this week that it is working on a new fast image recognition model.
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