AirPods Ultra With Cameras: iOS 27 Code Leak Reveals Apple's Next Wearable

New iOS 27 beta code points to "AirPods Ultra," a camera-equipped earbud codenamed B790. Here's what the leak reveals about Apple's Visual Intelligence wearable and when it might launch.

Key Takeaways

• Developer Sam Henri Gold found references to a mystery product codenamed B790 buried in the second iOS 27 developer beta.
• The code describes a device that processes two images from cameras on either side of a user's head — a strong hint at camera-equipped AirPods rather than smart glasses.
• Apple's smart glasses reportedly carry the separate codename N50, while the outgoing AirPods Pro 3 were codenamed B788 — making B790 look like the next earbud in the line, not a headset.
• The leaked code shows Visual Intelligence instructions built around recognizing landmarks, text, and everyday objects, using the Eiffel Tower and a coffee mug as internal examples.
• Multiple reports peg a launch for both "AirPods Ultra" and Apple's smart glasses in late 2027, though a separate leaker claims the AirPods camera project was recently "suspended."

What The iOS 27 Beta Code Actually Says

Beta software is a double-edged sword for companies like Apple: it lets developers catch bugs early, but it also hands sharp-eyed code sleuths a first look at unreleased hardware. That's exactly what happened this week. App developer Sam Henri Gold posted on X that the second iOS 27 developer beta contains references to an unannounced product, and the discovery is already fueling speculation about Apple's long-rumored camera wearables.

The leaked strings don't spell out a consumer-facing product name — nothing in the code literally says "AirPods Ultra." What they do reveal is a codename, B790, tied to a system prompt file used by Apple's Visual Intelligence feature. The file describes a device capable of relaying two separate camera feeds — one from each side of a person's head — back to Siri and Apple's on-device AI for processing.

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Why B790 Points To AirPods, Not Smart Glasses

Gold's initial guess was that the code referred to Apple's rumored smart glasses. But the numbering scheme tells a different story. Apple's current AirPods Pro 3 carry the internal codename B788, and the company's audio hardware has traditionally used the "B" prefix. B790 sits just two digits later in that same sequence — a far more natural fit for the next generation of earbuds than for a brand-new headset category.

Adding to that, separate reporting has linked Apple's smart glasses project to the codename N50, an entirely different naming pattern. That distinction is the main reason multiple outlets, including MacRumors and AppleInsider, now lean toward reading B790 as "AirPods Ultra" — the nickname that's circulated for over a year to describe a camera-equipped version of Apple's earbuds.

Cameras In Your Ears: What They'd Actually Do

Don't expect these cameras to shoot photos or video. The leaked code frames them purely as input for computer vision — letting Siri "see" what's in front of the wearer without anyone pulling out an iPhone. Practically, that could mean glancing at a restaurant menu and asking Siri to translate it, or looking at a houseplant and asking whether it needs water.

According to reporting from MacRumors, the internal system prompt instructs Visual Intelligence to identify landmarks, text, and known objects, citing the Eiffel Tower and a coffee mug as built-in test examples. That lines up with the version of Visual Intelligence already available on iPhone 15 Pro and later models, which iOS 27 is expected to expand significantly by folding it into the Camera app and a revamped, AI-driven Siri.

When Could AirPods Ultra Launch?

Timing is murky, and the signals are mixed:

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• Bloomberg has reported that both camera-equipped AirPods and Apple's smart glasses are currently targeting a late 2027 release.
• Apple had reportedly hoped to ship the camera AirPods in the first half of 2026, but pushed the timeline back while the AI-powered Siri overhaul needed for the feature was still in development.
• A separate leaker claims development of the camera AirPods was recently "paused" or "suspended," a claim that arrived the same week as the code discovery — an odd contrast that several outlets have flagged without being able to fully reconcile.

Whichever timeline proves accurate, the presence of this code in an active iOS 27 beta suggests the software groundwork is still very much alive, even if the hardware side hits delays.

AirPods Ultra vs. Apple's Smart Glasses: What's The Difference?

It's easy to conflate the two projects since both reportedly use Visual Intelligence and head-mounted cameras. Here's the shorthand:

Why This Leak Matters

Apple rarely confirms unannounced hardware, so leaks like this one are one of the few windows into what's actually being built behind the scenes. A codename tucked inside a Visual Intelligence system prompt is a small detail, but it's a meaningful one: it shows Apple is actively writing and testing AI instructions for a head-worn camera device right now, in a beta that will reach the public within weeks.

For anyone deciding whether to buy AirPods Pro 3 this year or hold out, it's another data point suggesting camera-equipped AirPods are real, in progress, and — barring further delays — realistically a 2027 product rather than an imminent one.

FAQ

What is AirPods Ultra? AirPods Ultra is the unofficial nickname for a rumored camera-equipped version of Apple's earbuds, referenced internally by the codename B790 in iOS 27 beta code.

Do AirPods Ultra have cameras that take photos? No. The leaked code frames the cameras as computer-vision input for Siri and Visual Intelligence, not as a photo or video capture tool.

When will AirPods Ultra be released? Current reporting points to a late 2027 launch, though a separate leak claims the project may have been temporarily paused.

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Is B790 definitely AirPods and not smart glasses? Not confirmed, but the B-series codename matches Apple's audio product naming (AirPods Pro 3 is B788), while Apple's smart glasses are reportedly codenamed N50 — a strong indicator B790 refers to earbuds.

Sources: Forbes (David Phelan), MacRumors, AppleInsider.