Camera AirPods Code Reveals Image Capture Resolution, Status Light, Person Detection, and More

Key Points:

• Apple is developing camera-equipped AirPods with dual cameras on each earbud that capture synchronized RGB still images up to 1 megapixel, primarily for Visual Intelligence processing rather than video recording.
• The AirPods feature active and passive image capture modes, with active mode triggered by the user (e.g., via Siri) capturing higher-resolution images, while passive mode supports lower-resolution background environmental awareness based on contextual audio and movement cues.
• The framework includes advanced features like lens distortion correction, dual-camera calibration, on-device person detection, and a hardware indicator light to signal when images are being captured.
• The camera-equipped AirPods shown in a recent demo video correspond to a canceled B790 model, with Apple now reportedly focusing on a new generation codenamed B798, expected to launch around 2027 potentially alongside the iPhone's 20th anniversary.
• Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests the AirPods with cameras could debut as soon as next year, possibly alongside other AI wearables, continuing Apple's push into smart accessories with enhanced sensing capabilities.