Apple’s AirPods Pro 4: A Glimpse into the Future with Integrated Cameras
Apple is reportedly developing the next iteration of its AirPods Pro, potentially introducing integrated cameras to enhance user experience. According to leaker and prototype collector Kosutami, the forthcoming AirPods Pro 4 will feature cameras embedded in each earbud, enabling the device to see around the user.
Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously indicated that the 2026 AirPods Pro will undergo significant hardware upgrades, including the addition of at least one tiny infrared camera. These infrared cameras are expected to recognize hand gestures and provide an enhanced spatial audio experience, particularly when used in conjunction with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Kosutami also suggests that the new AirPods Pro will be priced at $249, consistent with the current model. This contradicts earlier rumors that proposed the next AirPods Pro would serve as a secondary version of the AirPods Pro 3, coexisting alongside the existing model.
Chinese leaker Instant Digital has corroborated these claims, adding that the 2026 AirPods Pro will be a higher-end variant of the AirPods Pro 3 introduced in 2025. This strategy implies that both models will be available concurrently, similar to Apple’s approach with the AirPods 4, which are offered in two versions at $129 and $179 price points.
The current AirPods lineup includes models priced at $129, $179, $249, and $549. Introducing a product between the $249 AirPods Pro 3 and the $549 AirPods Max appears plausible, especially considering the growing market for premium Bluetooth earbuds from brands like Bang & Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bose.
In September 2025, Kuo reported that Apple plans to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This timeline is somewhat atypical, as Apple traditionally waits approximately three years to implement major hardware changes to its AirPods lineup. For instance, the AirPods Pro 2 debuted at the iPhone 14 event in September 2022 and received a USB-C charging case update with minor tweaks in September 2023.
Whether the upcoming model will be a new, high-end version of the AirPods Pro 3 or a full-fledged AirPods Pro 4 remains unclear. However, Apple typically announces new AirPods in the latter half of the year. Previous models, including the original AirPods, AirPods Pro 2 and their subsequent USB-C revision, AirPods 4, and AirPods Pro 3, were all unveiled at Apple’s annual iPhone event in September.
