The AirPods Pro 3 just came out Sept. 19, but Apple reportedly is already developing the next iteration -- and this one might have cameras.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is also working on the AirPods 5. There is no timetable for when the new AirPods Pro and AirPods 5 will come out. It's also uncertain what the upgraded AirPods Pro will be called, whether it will be the AirPods Pro 4 or just an enhanced AirPods Pro 3.
Read more: AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Should You Upgrade?
Apple is expected to launch several items early next year, including the iPhone 17e, new MacBook Air models, an iPad Air revamp and a budget iPad.
A representative from Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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If true, the AirPods Pro's addition of cameras aligns with a prediction from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said in June 2024 that "Apple plans to mass-produce new AirPods with camera modules by 2026."
Kuo said then that the cameras would be infrared, which might be advanced enough to let people control the device by simply making gestures in the air. The camera is similar to the iPhone Face ID receiver, Kuo said.
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Gurman also reported that the next AirPods Pro will get the H3 audio chip, which CNET executive editor Dave Carnoy had hoped for in his September review of the AirPods Pro 3. The chip -- Apple's latest processor -- is designed to reduce lag time and enhance audio quality.
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