If you think the current earbuds from Apple are as good as it gets, you might want to wait a bit longer before buying a new pair. Rumors suggest the company is getting ready to release a brand new audio device called the AirPods Ultra. This new model will sit above the standard options and bring major hardware changes nobody expected in a pair of headphones.
The upcoming earbuds feature hidden cameras for smart voice assistance
Instead of just making music sound better, it wants to make its newest earbuds much smarter. According to Mark Gurman, the upcoming premium model will include tiny infrared cameras. These cameras are not for snapping photos or recording videos. Instead, they will use visual intelligence to scan the world around you and feed that information directly to Siri.
You can ask questions about objects without pulling out your phone. As the company pushes harder into artificial intelligence, this new hardware matches a recent report showing John Ternus set to outpace Tim Cook with 10 new Apple product categories in just 5 years, which mentioned new AI AirPods playing a major role in the future lineup.
Buyers should expect a higher price tag for the new features
Adding cameras to tiny earbuds will definitely make them more expensive. The current top-tier models cost $249 in the USA. Since the Ultra sits entirely above the existing Pro line, buyers should prepare for a noticeable price bump when it hits the shelves.
We still do not know the exact release date for the product. However, reports suggest the company might launch the audio device alongside other high-end items, like a folding phone, later this fall. While the fresh design sounds exciting, many people are wondering if adding cameras will drain the battery life too quickly for daily use.
