2026 is the 10th anniversary of the original Apple AirPods that debuted on September 7 2016 alongside the iPhone 7 — and that could mean a special surprise for Apple's true wireless earbuds line.Reporting from folks like Mark Gurman at Bloomberg point to a new model called the AirPods Ultra that will leverage a new H3 chip, built-in cameras and Apple Intelligence to detect objects around you.So, what exactly do we know about these futuristic earbuds? Here's a full breakdown.AirPods Ultra: Potential release date
(Image credit: Apple)The earliest reports of a camera-equipped pair of AirPods came from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a report dated July 1 2024, Kuo said that "the cameras can detect changes in the environment" and could "potentially enable in-air gesture control to enhance human-device interaction."The legend of the camera-equipped AirPods Ultra has only grown from there.These days, the person who seems to know the most about the AirPods Ultra is Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Back in January of 2025, Gurman said in a newsletter that Apple was “exploring other types of wearable products” that included a pair of AirPods that could come with miniature infrared cameras. Back in June, he said that we're likely looking at a 2027 release date.Less qualified folks have said that Apple might unveil them at this September's iPhone 18 event, but I'm not entirely convinced. Apple is rarely in a rush to release a product, especially one as potentially complex as the AirPods Ultra are rumored to be.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.AirPods Ultra: Potential features
