Apple AirPods and Apple Watch are getting camera, likely to launch in 2027
Apple may launch camera-equipped AirPods and Watch by 2027
New chips codenamed Nevis and Glennie power visual features
Cameras to enable AI and spatial awareness, not photography
Apple is planning to bring cameras to its AirPods and Apple Watch, marking a major change in how its wearables function. As per a report by Bloomberg, these camera-equipped models are expected to debut around 2027, offering new ways to interact with devices using AI and spatial awareness rather than for photography.
The company is reportedly developing custom chips for each product. A chip codenamed 'Nevis' will power the Apple Watch, while 'Glennie' is said to be the chip for the new AirPods. If the chips are ready early in the year, Apple could launch these wearables sometime in 2027 itself.
Unlike traditional use cases, the cameras are not being added for clicking photos or making FaceTime calls. Instead, they're meant to collect visual data that will power on-device AI features. For the AirPods, Apple is working on integrating infrared cameras that could improve spatial audio when paired with devices like the Vision Pro. These sensors might also support gesture recognition by tracking hand movements.
The Apple Watch, on the other hand, could see a camera embedded in the display or placed near the Digital Crown on an upcoming Apple Watch Ultra. These additions could enable what Apple reportedly refers to as 'Visual Intelligence' â€' offering real-time environmental understanding and smarter directions based on what's visible around the user. While these features are still in development, the move shows Apple's intent to push wearables beyond fitness and notifications.
Besides, the same report also claims that Apple is developing its first pair of smart glasses, and at the heart of this push is a new custom-designed chip. It is reported that Apple's silicon team is working on a power-efficient processor for wearable glasses, a sign that the long-rumoured product may not be too far from launch.
The chip is reportedly based on technology currently used in the Apple Watch â€' known for its low power consumption â€' but further refined for efficiency and compactness. It's also being designed to support multiple onboard cameras, which could be used to scan surroundings and deliver AI-powered experiences. While the company hasn't confirmed anything officially, internal timelines reportedly aim for mass production to begin as early as the end of 2026 or sometime in 2027.
Apple is planning to bring cameras to its AirPods and Apple Watch, marking a major change in how its wearables function. As per a report by Bloomberg, these camera-equipped models are expected to debut around 2027, offering new ways to interact with devices using AI and spatial awareness rather than for photography.
The company is reportedly developing custom chips for each product. A chip codenamed 'Nevis' will power the Apple Watch, while 'Glennie' is said to be the chip for the new AirPods. If the chips are ready early in the year, Apple could launch these wearables sometime in 2027 itself.
Unlike traditional use cases, the cameras are not being added for clicking photos or making FaceTime calls. Instead, they're meant to collect visual data that will power on-device AI features. For the AirPods, Apple is working on integrating infrared cameras that could improve spatial audio when paired with devices like the Vision Pro. These sensors might also support gesture recognition by tracking hand movements.
The Apple Watch, on the other hand, could see a camera embedded in the display or placed near the Digital Crown on an upcoming Apple Watch Ultra. These additions could enable what Apple reportedly refers to as 'Visual Intelligence' â€' offering real-time environmental understanding and smarter directions based on what's visible around the user. While these features are still in development, the move shows Apple's intent to push wearables beyond fitness and notifications.
Besides, the same report also claims that Apple is developing its first pair of smart glasses, and at the heart of this push is a new custom-designed chip. It is reported that Apple's silicon team is working on a power-efficient processor for wearable glasses, a sign that the long-rumoured product may not be too far from launch.
The chip is reportedly based on technology currently used in the Apple Watch â€' known for its low power consumption â€' but further refined for efficiency and compactness. It's also being designed to support multiple onboard cameras, which could be used to scan surroundings and deliver AI-powered experiences. While the company hasn't confirmed anything officially, internal timelines reportedly aim for mass production to begin as early as the end of 2026 or sometime in 2027. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Larry Ellison's net worth: Here's how Oracle co-founder became the second-richest man with $258.8 billion in June 2025
US-based big tech multinational firm Oracle's Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Larry Ellison's net worth, witnessed a massive multi-billion-dollar surge last week as the 80-year-old's value hit $258.8 billion in June 2025. Data collected from the Forbes Billionaire List showed Ellison replaced Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to become the second-richest billionaire in the world. Larry Ellison's net worth rose by $66.8 billion to hit its level of $258.8 billion last week, compared to its $192 billion levels mentioned in the World's Billionaires List for 2025. According to Bloomberg data, Larry Ellison holds more than 40 per cent of the tech company along with a stake in Elon Musk's Tesla, a sailing team, a tennis event, and real estate, including the Lanai island in Hawaii. However, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index, Ellison is the third richest billionaire, with the last change marking a $13.9 billion increase. The data showed that Larry Ellison's net worth was $234 billion, trailing behind Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. The billionaire CTO's net worth jumped after the company published an earnings report that beat Wall Street analysts' expectations. According to the official fourth quarter 2024-25 fiscal year results, the big tech firm's total quarterly revenues witnessed an 11 per cent year-on-year (YoY) jump to $15.9 billion, with major support from its cloud services and license support revenues, which recorded a 14 per cent jump in constant currency at $11.7 billion. The company's net income (GAAP) was $3.4 billion while the earnings per share were at $1.19. 'FY25 was a very good year — but we believe FY26 will be even better as our revenue growth rates will be dramatically higher,' said Oracle CEO, Safra Catz, in the filing. 'MultiCloud database revenue from Amazon, Google and Azure grew 115% from Q3 to Q4,' said Oracle Chairman and CTO, Larry Ellison, according to the official release. Oracle shares closed nearly 7.6 per cent higher at $215.22 after Friday's US stock market session, compared to $199.86 at the previous market close. The stock earlier jumped nearly 14 per cent on Thursday's market open after the company announced better-than-expected results for its fourth quarter on 11 June 2025. Oracle Corp. shares have given stock market investors more than 295 per cent returns on their investment in the last five years and over 52 per cent in the last one-year period. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the shares have gained 29.63 per cent in 2025 and are trading 23.26 per cent higher in the last five stock market sessions. The shares hit their 52-week high levels at $216.60, while the 52-week low level was at ₹ 118.86, according to the data collected from Marketwatch. Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, not Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Apple says some M2 Mac Minis may not power on, check if you are eligible for free repair
If your Mac mini has suddenly decided to take an unexpected nap and won't wake up, Apple might have just the solution, and with no extra cost included. Apple has launched a free repair programme in India to address a manufacturing defect affecting a limited batch of its 2023 Mac mini models powered by the M2 chip. The company says a small number of these units are experiencing a "no power" issue, leaving them unable to turn on due to an internal hardware to Apple's official support documentation, the issue specifically affects Mac mini (2023) models with M2 chips that were produced between June 16, 2024 and November 23, 2024. If a device falls within this manufacturing window and suffers from a power failure, Apple will offer complimentary repairs either through its own service centres or via Apple Authorised Service how do you identify whether your Apple device was produced on these dates? Owners of potentially affected Mac mini units are encouraged to check their device's serial number using a dedicated tool on Apple's support website. Those found eligible can then book an appointment at an Apple Retail Store or bring their device to a participating service provider for inspection and repair. While the repair programme is part of Apple's global service initiative, the company notes that it may limit repairs to the country or region where the device was originally purchased. For Indian customers, this means that eligible devices bought in India can be serviced locally at no Apple has clarified that this programme applies exclusively to the identified "no power" issue on the specified Mac mini M2 models. Other Mac mini variants, as well as different Apple products, are not included in this repair the repair programme does not extend the standard warranty or AppleCare+ coverage, it will remain active for a period of three years from the original date of retail sale. This means customers whose devices are out of warranty but still within the three-year window can still benefit from the free repair decision to address the issue through a dedicated repair programme reflects its ongoing effort to maintain customer trust and satisfaction, particularly when manufacturing flaws affect its premium devices. The 2023 Mac mini, equipped with the powerful M2 chip, has been popular among both professionals and casual users for its performance and compact design, making any hardware hiccup especially frustrating for now, those whose Mac mini M2 units have been rendered unresponsive can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing Apple has a solution in place — and one that won't cost them a rupee.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Rajrishi Singhal: What markets demand needn't be what society wants
Apple's highly anticipated developer conference this year has not only disappointed reviewers and equity markets, but also raised many disturbing questions. One, it has raised anxieties over the future viability of the iPhone manufacturer. More importantly, it highlights the divergence between what is good for society versus what is good for the stock market, belying the benign and popular perception of the role that equity markets play in society. Apple's developer conferences, called WWDC25 this year, are usually a marquee event in the tech world, providing independent developers and tech analysts an inkling of the company's progress with hardware and software. At WWDC25 on 9 June, Apple executives were able to share only a limited future path for the company, especially on its progress with artificial intelligence (AI). Apple's senior executives told the gathering that the promise made last year about upgrading Apple Intelligence, with voice assistant Siri as its centrepiece, would take some more time to accomplish. Also Read: China plus one: Apple and India might need to woo not just Trump but Xi too This left many analysts and developers cold. Even the stock market expressed its displeasure: Apple's common stock has tanked almost 25% from its 52-week high. The market's disapproval, interestingly, is not limited to Apple's slow progress in integrating AI, but also centres around the company's data privacy policies. The market's unhappiness seems to stem from the company's reluctance to use a customer's individual usage data or information as an input for training personalized AI models. Apple instead prefers to use insights based on aggregate consumer preferences, unlike competitors like Microsoft and Google. It would then appear that the market is rewarding companies that will profit from scraping individual data, rather than businesses which have red lines on using personal data. Also Read: Apple's Hotel California trap: It can check out but not leave China The market's simple logic is that companies using personal data for their AI engines can unlock new revenue sources by offering consumers hyper-personalized offerings. Plus, there is the subscription angle. For example, individual subscription rates for Microsoft's Copilot Pro are expected to be around $20 every month, its key selling point being its ability to unlock AI features in all Microsoft 365 products, such as Word or PowerPoint, allowing customers to generate drafts, summarize content or analyse data at a faster rate. Google AI Pro will also be available to customers at the same rate, but a turbo-charged version called Google AI Ultra will be available for $250 per month. When this columnist asked Google's Gemini how Apple's future AI plans can make money for the company, one part of the AI engine's reply stood out: 'Apple's strong stance on privacy ('intelligence without surveillance') is a powerful differentiator in an era of increasing data concerns. This can foster greater trust and loyalty among its user base, leading to continued purchases of Apple products and services over competitors. While not a direct revenue stream, it's a critical factor in sustaining its high-margin business model." Also Read: Dave Lee: Apple must make peace with developers for AI success Yet, the stock market did not seem impressed. Clearly, for market operators, short-term corporate profits have greater primacy over privacy concerns. Even if we were to disregard the normative issues of morality or ethics for a moment, the stock market's responses are visibly out of sync with society's needs or concerns. There is a reason for this: the stock market is focused on the limited constituency it serves. Its behaviour aligns almost perfectly with the objectives set out by institutional investors or companies looking to raise money. In the not-too-distant past, the market was bestowing the Apple stock with a premium too because the company had plugs and ports that differed from other manufacturers, guaranteeing the company exclusive, high-margin revenues, even if that meant consumer discomfort or the exercise of near-monopolistic power. Also Read: Big Tech in the dock: The EU could force Meta and Apple to change their coercive ways The statement that the market's singular focus on corporate bottom-lines and their impact on share prices does not necessarily align with what could be good for broader society might seem like belabouring a truism; but the need to reiterate this has arisen in the face of a growing tendency to conflate a stock market's signals with the desires or ambitions of society on the whole. One good example of the market-versus-society divergence is the premium that US equity markets placed on companies setting up manufacturing bases in China. This was happening at a time when the US political class and civil society were bemoaning the absence of democracy and human rights in the North Asian country, even while hoping that closer integration with the global economy would discipline its regime. Reality has turned out otherwise, but stock markets continued to glorify companies that moved production to China. Also Read: Apple's UK run-in: Privacy may matter less to its customers than it thinks The linking of stock market performance with broader social well-being in India found fresh oxygen during the covid pandemic when benchmark indices, after initially dipping sharply, spiked with help from technology and pharma stocks. This was used by many politicians as well as Indian fund managers aligned with the ruling party's political ideology to indicate the economy's recovery and society's triumph over the virus. Planners and policymakers must realize that a healthy society's needs, desires and ambitions extend far beyond quarterly earnings and the oscillation of benchmark indices. The author is a senior journalist and author of 'Slip, Stitch and Stumble: The Untold Story of India's Financial Sector Reforms' @rajrishisinghal
