New research suggests AirPods with cameras can't happen unless Apple makes a few major changes
Date:
Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:05:02 +0000
Description:
Researchers have squirrelled a tiny camera module into earbuds that allows your listening gear to see what you see but don't get excited about AirPods with cameras just yet.
FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
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your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Researchers at the University of Washington designed cameras for earbuds Design limitations made the 2019-issue Sony WF-1000XM3 the perfect pair
...and the report suggests AirPods Pro can't last long enough We've been hearing a surprising number of leaks to suggest that future AirPods could
come with built-in cameras, perhaps as soon as 2027 , despite its ongoing failures in the niche vision-tech market . And some new research may point to more problems.
Researchers for the University of Washington have written a paper about the VueBuds, earbuds they've created which have a built-in camera. This can see and recognize what you're looking at, much like how smart glasses work,
except without needing big frames. The paper describes how they sit slightly apart from XR headsets, smart glasses and body-worn cameras, with the main advantage being that earbuds are far, far more popular than any of those
other categories. Article continues below You may like Apple reportedly working on AI smart glasses, an AI pin, and AirPods that can see What are the best AirPods to buy today? I've used every model since 2016, and here are my recommendations This new Galaxy Buds leak suggests that we won't be getting a handy AirPods feature after all
The earbuds weren't designed from the ground up, with the researchers
choosing 2019's Sony WF-1000XM3 s for the task. Hey, we gave them 5 stars in our review: can't blame the researchers for wanting to hear some pretty good tunes while they work.
But their great noise cancellation and sound quality wasn't what drew the researchers to the Sonys. The real reason points to why AirPods with cameras will be a big challenge. How long do they last? (Image credit: Steve May) The VueBuds were designed as an additional module, so they needed to be installed on existing earbuds. So why not use the most popular earbuds on the planet AirPods Pro rather than a 2019 option?
In the paper, the researchers explained: "We selected the Sony WF-1000XM3 platform based on accessibility for disassembly and battery integration, enabling a maintainable research scope without requiring a complete earbud redesign from the ground up." Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in
your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
That is to say, they could get into the Sonys, with AirPods being harder to break down. Back in 2024, we reported that Apple was looking into removable batteries that could be used across various iOS devices , but two years on they've yet to make it to market.
Back to the University of Washington's findings though, and later on in the paper it's mentioned that the AirPods Pro 2 were also tested (with a line suggesting that the AirPods Pro 3 were only released during the VueBuds testing process, so came out too late).
This is largely detailed in the 'Power Analysis' section, with test stats suggesting that the AirPods offered a lower battery life with VueBuds
attached than the Sonys did. It seems that in all cases, the usual battery life of earbuds was roughly halved when cameras were brought into the mix, to just above three hours in the case of the AirPods Pro 2. What to read next 'Only limited by the physics': inside Apples AirPods Max 2 and the H2 chip upgrade Sony WF-1000XM6 vs AirPods Pro 3: which should you buy? New report suggests Apple will release an AI Pin in 2027
It's no big secret that Apple 's earbuds have below-average battery lives
when pitted against direct contemporary rivals (albeit with exceptional ANC and features that trounce most of those), and a quoted stamina of three hours when cameras are brought into the mix simply wouldn't cut it in today's congested market.
With each new generation of AirPods, Apple inches closer to an acceptable battery life (slightly slower than our definition of 'acceptable' raises),
and maybe the AirPods 5 will last long enough for cameras to be feasible. But right now, it sounds like the buds just don't have a big enough battery to allow for vision tools to be brought into the mix. The best wireless earbuds for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons
Read our full guide to the best earbuds 1. Best overall: Technics EAH-AZ100 2. Best mid-range: Cambridge Audio A100 3. Best budget: Nothing Ear (a) 4. Best for noise-cancelling: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra 2nd Gen Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
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