AirPods Want to Have ‘Eyes’? This Leak Makes Me Can’t Wait!
I’ve heard, there’s a super crazy rumor that makes a tech-freak’s ears like mine perk up immediately! Imagine, our already sophisticated AirPods, reportedly will be embedded with infrared cameras! Seriously, cameras! This isn’t just idle gossip, guys. My regular analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, has given a strong signal that AirPods with cameras could appear on the market around 2026. Crazy, right?!
Why Does AirPods Use Infrared Cameras?
Well, this is the question that immediately popped into my mind: “What for, exactly?” It turns out, the purpose is no joke! Kuo said that this infrared camera module is very similar to the Face ID technology on our iPhones or iPads. So, it’s not a camera for selfies, guys! The function is more towards recognition and detection. Apparently, Apple really wants to make these AirPods a ‘loyal supporter’ for their revolutionary Vision Pro headset, and also for future headsets.
Wow, Spatial Audio Will Become More Realistic!
This is what excites me the most! With an infrared camera in AirPods, our spatial audio experience will really level up. Reportedly, AirPods can adjust the sound based on our head movements when using Vision Pro. So, just imagine, when you’re playing a VR game or watching a movie, the sound you hear will really feel like it’s coming from the direction that matches your view and head movements. I’m sure this will make us even more ‘immersed’ in the virtual world!
Effortless Gesture Control? Absolutely Possible!
In addition to spatial audio, the infrared camera function also opens the door to super intuitive gesture control. No need to press buttons or say “Hey Siri” all the time anymore. We can interact with the device just by head movements or perhaps certain hand movements detected by the infrared camera. Imagine how practical it would be if we could skip songs, raise the volume, or even answer calls just with a small gesture! This is the definition of technology that really makes our lives easier.
Who Makes It and When Can We Try It?
Kuo has also appointed Foxconn as the main supplier for this infrared camera. And the news that makes me even more stunned, Apple is planning to increase its annual camera production capacity to 18-20 million units. That’s equivalent to about 10 million pairs of AirPods, you know! This means they are really serious about this project.
AirPods are Just a Small Part of Apple’s Big Ecosystem
Oh yeah, this isn’t just about AirPods, guys. Bloomberg itself already reported in early 2024 that Apple is exploring various uses for their new wearable devices, including smart glasses that look a bit like Ray-Ban Meta. The focus isn’t just VR or AR, but more towards image recognition using AI and voice interfaces. Even the concept of a smart ring and future versions of the Apple Watch are also being developed. So, AirPods with an infrared camera are one of the puzzle pieces in Apple’s big plan to make us more seamlessly connected to technology. I can’t wait to try all these innovations!
