AirPods 5 may arrive next week; camera AirPods reportedly delayed to 2027
Apple could announce AirPods 5 next week, while camera-equipped AirPods have reportedly slipped to late 2027, 9to5Mac says.
9to5Mac said Apple’s current lineup consists of AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max 2. AirPods 4 were released in November 2024, and AirPods Pro 3 debuted last fall. Bloomberg, cited by 9to5Mac, reported that Apple is set to announce AirPods 5 at next week’s “Surprise and shine” event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra. Like the AirPods 4, the new AirPods 5 are expected in two versions, one with active noise cancellation and one without; no further features have been reported.
The report also detailed leaks about AirPods with built-in cameras. Bloomberg has described them as “the eyes” for Siri, meaning the cameras in both earbuds would not capture photos or videos but would provide environmental context. The earbuds are said to have longer stems than normal AirPods Pro and a small LED light that turns on when the cameras are capturing data. Originally slated for release in 2026, the devices have reportedly slipped to late 2027 because of Apple Intelligence and Siri delays.
As for AirPods Max, 9to5Mac notes that Apple updated the model this year with the H2 chip and improved audio. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said last year that Apple was working on a lighter version for 2027, but the report says it is unclear whether that refresh remains on the roadmap.
9to5Mac advises people considering AirPods 4 to wait until next week to see what AirPods 5 offer. It says AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max are good purchases now, and it does not recommend waiting for the camera AirPods since they are at least a year away.