Apple enters final testing phase for AirPods equipped with camera

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Apple is reportedly entering the final testing phase for AirPods equipped directly with a camera. This news was first reported by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, as quoted from GSM Arena, on Friday (8/5) local time. Rumours about AirPods with a camera began to emerge in February 2026. Now, Mark Gurman reports that these unique AirPods are in the Design Validation Testing (DVT) phase. Prototypes of this earring-like device are being tested internally by Apple, citing sources familiar with the product development. If the DVT phase, which marks the final stage of product development, is completed, the next step is Production Validation Testing (PVT). This phase is the initial stage where product units will be mass-produced and marks the production stage. Gurman stated that although the hardware of these camera-equipped AirPods is nearly complete, the product launch could be delayed. This is because Apple may still develop its software, and if the company is not satisfied with the AI experience, there is a high likelihood that the product’s release will be postponed. It is believed that these camera-equipped AirPods may be named AirPods Ultra. The device is expected to work well with Siri to better understand the user’s surroundings. For the overall design, it is said to possibly resemble the widely available AirPods Pro 3, but the stem will be longer to accommodate the presence of the camera in the device.