What to expect from the next AirPods Pro, launching as soon as this year

At a glance:

• Apple is developing AirPods Pro with infrared cameras for spatial awareness, potentially launching in September 2026 alongside new iPhones.
• The device may feature a new H3 chip for lower latency and could be named "AirPods Ultra" or keep the AirPods Pro 3 branding.
• Pricing remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from $249 (replacing the current model) to $299 (selling as a premium tier).

Enhanced environmental awareness and gesture controls

Apple is reportedly accelerating the development of the next iteration of its premium earbuds, with a potential release window as early as September 2026. According to sources cited by MacRumors, the upcoming device will be a variant of the current AirPods Pro 3, which originally launched in September 2025. This suggests that Apple might not follow a traditional numerical increment, meaning these new buds may not necessarily be marketed as the "AirPods Pro 4."

The most significant hardware addition is the integration of tiny infrared cameras. Unlike the cameras found on an iPhone, these sensors are not designed for capturing photos or videos. Instead, they are intended to provide the wearable with spatial awareness, gathering data about the wearer's surroundings to feed into a connected iPhone. This data is expected to significantly enhance Visual Intelligence capabilities and improve Siri features scheduled for release with iOS 27.

Furthermore, these infrared sensors could revolutionize how users interact with their audio devices. The technology is expected to recognize hand gestures, allowing wearers to control music playback and other features through mid-air movements. This builds upon the existing head gesture functionality—used currently for accepting or declining calls—and could potentially allow Apple to remove the physical pressure-sensitive stem controls entirely, making gesture recognition the primary input method.

Hardware performance and Vision Pro synergy

Under the hood, Apple is rumored to be developing a new H3 chip to power these camera-equipped earbuds. This would mark a departure from the current AirPods Pro 3, which notably retained the H2 chip originally introduced in the AirPods Pro 2. The transition to the H3 architecture is anticipated to deliver lower latency and improved audio quality, addressing the increased processing demands of the new infrared sensors.

Beyond standalone performance, the new hardware is designed to deepen the integration with Apple's mixed reality ecosystem. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the cameras integrated into the AirPods Pro will specifically upgrade the spatial audio experience when paired with the Apple Vision Pro headset. By using the infrared cameras to better understand the user's head position and environment, the AirPods could offer a more immersive and responsive audio layer for Vision Pro users.

Branding uncertainty and market positioning

There is currently considerable disagreement regarding how Apple will position these earbuds within the existing lineup and what they will ultimately be called. Since the AirPods Pro 3 only recently launched in September 2025, a rapid rebranding to "AirPods Pro 4" seems unlikely. Apple has several options: they could simply upgrade the existing model while keeping the "AirPods Pro 3" name, or they could adopt a descriptive title like "AirPods Pro 3 with Cameras."

This naming strategy would mirror the approach taken with the standard earbuds lineup, where Apple released two versions of the AirPods 4—one with Active Noise Cancellation and one without. The ANC model was specifically named "AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation," setting a precedent for straightforward descriptive branding. However, some rumors suggest a more distinct identity, proposing the name "AirPods Ultra" to differentiate this high-tech variant from the standard Pro series.

Pricing strategies and release timeline

The financial barrier to entry for this new technology remains a topic of debate among analysts. Some rumors indicate that the new model will carry a higher price tag than the existing $249 AirPods Pro 3, while others suggest the price will remain stable. The final cost will likely determine the product's placement in the market.

If Apple prices the new device at the current standard of $249, it would likely replace the AirPods Pro 3 as the default offering. However, if the price climbs to approximately $299 to account for the infrared camera hardware, Apple may choose to sell the new model alongside the existing AirPods Pro 3 as a premium, distinct tier. Looking at the competition, such as the Sony WF-1000XM6 priced at $330, a $299 price point would position Apple aggressively in the high-end market.

The launch is currently projected for 2026, with a specific target of September. If this timeline holds, consumers can expect the announcement to coincide with the traditional iPhone event, likely alongside the unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. This synchronized release strategy would allow Apple to demonstrate the cross-device functionality between the new AirPods, the latest iPhones, and the Vision Pro headset simultaneously.