Apple Delays Camera AirPods to Late 2027 Amid AI Struggles

A Big 2027 Bundle

Apple is lining up a major product launch for late 2027 that will bring together camera-equipped AirPods, a 20th anniversary iPhone and a second-generation foldable device, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. All three are reportedly being tested internally with iOS 28, the software update code-named "Bell", although Apple has cautioned that the timing "remains fluid and could change".

Why the AirPods Slipped

The camera AirPods, code-named B798, were originally planned for the first half of 2026 but have been repeatedly pushed back as Apple wrestled with its next-generation Siri. Rather than taking photos or videos, the earbuds feature low-resolution infrared cameras built into elongated stems that feed visual data to Apple's AI assistant, acting as what Gurman calls "the eyes for Siri". In May, Bloomberg reported the design had reached validation testing with a near-final look, and a September 2026 launch alongside iOS 27 seemed possible. But Apple's struggle to build visual AI models that can reliably identify objects in a user's surroundings has now pushed the product to late 2027.

The Anniversary iPhone and Foldable

The 20th anniversary iPhone, marking two decades since the original 2007 device, is expected to feature a curved, mostly glass design with no visible display cutouts, eliminating the Dynamic Island and hiding the front-facing camera beneath the screen. Apple is preparing two size options similar to today's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, paired with a 2-nanometre A21 chip. Alongside the anniversary models, Apple plans a second-generation foldable iPhone, while its first foldable remains on track for a September 2026 debut next to the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.

A Broader AI Wearables Strategy

The 2027 trio reflects Apple's wider push into AI-powered hardware. The company is also developing smart glasses under the code name N50, though that product was recently delayed to late 2027 as well. To rebuild Siri's architecture, Apple struck a partnership with Google to use Gemini models, a decision Bloomberg traced to an internal "crisis" over Apple Intelligence's underperformance. The revamped Siri debuted at WWDC earlier this month alongside iOS 27, but the more advanced visual capabilities needed for camera-equipped wearables are still in development.