The Rumour: Camera AirPods Could Be Sooner Than Expected
Apple's AirPods roadmap just got more interesting. Reports from August 2026 suggest that a new version of AirPods — equipped with tiny infrared cameras — could arrive as soon as late 2026, earlier than the previously rumoured 2027 window alongside the 20th anniversary iPhone.
The cameras are described as working similarly to Face ID, scanning the user's surrounding environment to enable more advanced gesture controls and spatial awareness. They'd also feed into Visual Intelligence — letting the AirPods describe objects and surroundings in a way that currently only newer iPhones can do with their cameras.
Apple may rebrand these camera-equipped earbuds as AirPods Ultra, moving away from the Pro naming to signal a more premium tier. They would reportedly also include an H3 chip — the first chip upgrade for AirPods Pro since the H2 arrived with the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022 — offering better sound quality and lower latency.
However, one leaker claimed in July 2026 that camera AirPods development had been suspended. Apple has not confirmed anything. There's genuine uncertainty about timing. If you were waiting specifically for camera AirPods, that wait could stretch into late 2027.
📅 Bottom line on waiting: If camera AirPods arrive in late 2026, the wait is 3–4 months. If development is truly suspended and they slip to 2027, you'd be waiting over a year. The AirPods Pro 3 are genuinely excellent right now.
AirPods Pro 3: The Current Flagship
Released in September 2025 at $249 / £249, the AirPods Pro 3 represent Apple's biggest leap in earbuds in years. The headline features:
- Heart rate sensor — infrared light pulsed 256 times per second measures blood flow, enabling workout tracking without an Apple Watch
- 2× better Active Noise Cancellation — with ultra-low noise microphones and new foam-infused silicone tips, the ANC improvement is noticeable in real-world use
- IP57 water resistance — up from IP54, meaning they can survive a metre of water for 30 minutes
- Live Translation — real-time in-person language translation powered by Apple Intelligence
- 8 hours battery with ANC — up from 6 hours on the Pro 2
- Five ear tip sizes including a new XXS, with foam-infused silicone for a better seal
The same H2 chip from the AirPods Pro 2 powers all of this — Apple didn't upgrade the silicon, but that hasn't limited what the AirPods Pro 3 can do. iOS 27 adds Custom EQ (finally) and a redesigned settings menu, available when paired with an H2 chip AirPod.
One honest trade-off: the case battery is smaller. Total listening time with the case is 24 hours, down from 30 hours on the AirPods Pro 2. The buds last longer; the case holds less charge. For most people this is a non-issue, but worth knowing if you travel without USB-C access for days at a time.
Product shot of AirPods Pro 3 with tips displayed
AirPods 4: The Sensible Middle Ground
Released alongside the AirPods Pro 3 in 2024, the AirPods 4 are available in two versions:
- AirPods 4 ($129 / £129) — Open-ear design, no ANC, basic charging case
- AirPods 4 with ANC ($179 / £179) — Active Noise Cancellation, wireless charging case with Find My speaker
The open-ear design won't suit everyone. Without a silicone tip sealing the ear canal, passive noise isolation is minimal and bass is less prominent than the Pro. But for people who dislike the in-ear feel of the Pro, the AirPods 4 are a genuinely compelling alternative — and at $129, the entry price is nearly half the Pro.
The AirPods 4 with ANC at $179 is arguably the best value in the lineup for most people. You get ANC, a speaker in the case for Find My, and wireless charging — without the premium price of the Pro. What you don't get: heart rate sensing, IP57 water resistance, Live Translation, or the five ear tip sizes.
AirPods Max: For Those Who Want More
The AirPods Max 2 sit at the top of the lineup at $549 / £549. These are over-ear headphones made from aluminium and mesh fabric, with the best sound quality and ANC Apple makes. They're not for commuting or workouts — they're for listening at home or on long flights where quality and comfort over extended hours matter more than portability.
The AirPods Max 2 also have the H2 chip, so they'll get Custom EQ in iOS 27 alongside the AirPods Pro 3. For pure audio quality, they're in a different league to the earbuds — but at more than double the price of the Pro 3, they're a niche choice.
Which AirPods Work With Your Older iPhone?
All AirPods pair with any iPhone over Bluetooth, but not all features are available on every device. Here's the reality for users on older iOS versions:
| Feature | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Basic audio + ANC | iOS 16 or later |
| Spatial Audio | iOS 16 or later |
| Conversation Awareness | iOS 16.4 or later |
| Heart Rate sensing | iOS 26 + compatible iPhone |
| Live Translation | Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro or later, iOS 26+) |
| Custom EQ (iOS 27) | H2 chip AirPods + iOS 27 |
| Hearing Test + Hearing Aid | iOS 18 or later |
If you're on an older iPhone running iOS 15 or iOS 16 — an iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone SE, or similar — the AirPods Pro 3 will still pair and deliver excellent sound, ANC, and Transparency mode. You'll miss the newer intelligence features, but the core audio experience is unaffected.
On iPhone 6s (iOS 15 maximum): AirPods pair and work, but you won't get Adaptive Audio or Conversation Awareness introduced in iOS 16.4. The AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 3 still sound good and ANC works. Just don't expect the newer smart features.
⚠️ iPhone 6 and older: AirPods require iOS 10 at minimum to pair, but many features introduced in iOS 14 and later won't be available. Basic playback works — everything beyond that depends on your iOS version.
Buy Now or Wait?
If you need earbuds now, the answer is buy the AirPods Pro 3. They're the best earbuds Apple has made. ANC is genuinely best-in-class, the fit is improved over the Pro 2, and heart rate sensing is a useful bonus if you don't have an Apple Watch. The $199 sale price that has appeared at Amazon makes the decision even easier.
If you only care about audio quality and don't need in-ear, buy the AirPods 4 with ANC at $179. It's excellent value and the gap to the Pro 3 is smaller than the $70 price difference suggests.
If you want to wait for camera AirPods: the uncertainty is real. Late 2026 is possible; late 2027 is equally plausible. Waiting a year for a feature — gesture controls and environmental scanning — that will likely cost significantly more than $249 is a harder sell unless you're genuinely excited by the technology for its own sake.
Our verdict
The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple's best earbuds and a strong buy at $249 — or $199 when on sale. Camera AirPods (possibly rebranded as AirPods Ultra) are rumoured for late 2026 but development uncertainty means you could be waiting a year or more. For older iPhone users on iOS 15 or 16, the core AirPods experience — ANC, spatial audio, transparent mode — works just fine, even without the newer Apple Intelligence features.
Check what your iPhone can actually run
Wondering which apps and features still work on your older iPhone or iPad? Use AppCompat to check your device's full compatibility.
Check your device compatibility →Also see: Stuck on iOS 26 and can't upgrade? Here's what to do · Best music apps for older iPhones and iPads · Can I still use my old iPhone in 2026?