In its latest strategy to revolutionize the audio market, Apple is expected to release a generation of AirPods that will incorporate an unmatched-quality camera. In his June 2021 report, TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reveals that Apple’s next short-term goal is to launch an AirPod with a camera in 2022, but the company wants to turn this product into a high-volume one, producing it in 2026.
The new earbuds will contain an infrared (IR) camera like the one found in the iPhone’s Face ID device. This new addition could be seen as a move towards improving the spatial audio output when used in conjunction with the soon-to-be-released Apple mixed-reality headset Vision Pro.
According to Kuo, IR cameras will capture image changes in the environment and subsequently enable earphones to recognize the movements of the user’s head and adapt audio correspondingly. As an adaptive process, this should lead to an enhanced music listening experience, especially when used with the Vision Pro.
New AirPods are also likely to support in-air gestures, which the user will use to control the devices. This feature could also bring efficiency to the next level, enhancing the ease and convenience of using this interface.
Notably, a previous report was made in February, in which AirPods with special sensors and a camera were mentioned. Recent disclosures by Apple of new features on its AirPods, mainly on Siri gesture control and better performance in voice calls, prove Apple’s firm focus on the audio market.
The camera-equipped AirPods will be launched as Apple fans, along with the rest of the tech fraternity, continue to wait for new, unique innovations from the world’s most admired technology company. The AirPods will be a major force in changing the true wireless stereo (TWS) market while enhancing the hitherto interactive audio experience.
