The cameras feed visual information into the AI, which then answers questions
As the iPhone marks its twentieth year, Apple is preparing a coordinated wave of products for 2027 that quietly redefines what a wearable can be — not a screen strapped to the body, but a set of ears and eyes that interpret the world on your behalf. Under incoming CEO John Ternus, the company is weaving cameras, custom silicon, and ambient AI into objects as familiar as earbuds, signaling that the next frontier of computing may not be held in the hand at all. It is a bet that intelligence, to feel natural, must first become invisible.
- Apple's most ambitious product cycle yet — camera AirPods, a second-generation foldable iPhone, and a 20th-anniversary iPhone — is converging on a single launch window in late 2027, raising the stakes for every release.
- The camera AirPods, already delayed once from 2026 due to the complexity of real-time visual AI, represent the sharpest edge of the push: earbuds that watch the world so Siri can answer questions about it.
- A new CEO, John Ternus, assumes the role on September 1, meaning this product wave will immediately define his leadership and Apple's credibility in the AI era.
- Apple's silicon roadmap accelerates in lockstep — the A21 chip on 2-nanometer technology powers the 2027 flagships, while a 1.4-nanometer A22 Pro is already being prepared for 2028, with Intel considered as a secondary manufacturer.
- The broader ecosystem — smart glasses for late 2025, an AI pendant, Visual Intelligence baked into iOS — suggests Apple is not launching isolated devices but assembling an ambient intelligence layer around the human body.
Apple is preparing what insiders describe as its most ambitious product cycle in the company's history, with three major hardware releases converging on late 2027: AirPods equipped with visual AI cameras, a second-generation foldable iPhone, and a special anniversary model commemorating two decades of the iPhone. All three have reached advanced stages of development, according to people familiar with the plans.
The camera AirPods are the most conceptually striking of the three. The cameras embedded in the earbuds' stems won't take photos — they'll function as environmental sensors, feeding real-world visual data into Siri so users can ask contextual questions about what's in front of them. The product, code-named B798, was originally planned for 2026 but slipped as Apple worked through the complexity of building real-time object recognition software. Externally, the earbuds will closely resemble current AirPods Pro models, distinguished only by the stem cameras and small indicator lights that signal when data is being sent for processing.
The AirPods fit into Apple's wider Visual Intelligence framework, already appearing in iOS 27 and the Vision Pro headset. But earbuds offer something the Vision Pro cannot: an accessible, everyday entry point into AI-powered wearables. Apple is also developing an AI pendant with a camera for wearing on clothing, and smart glasses code-named N50 are slated for late 2025 to compete with Meta's lineup.
On the iPhone side, the second-generation foldable — code-named V78 — arrives in September 2027, with Apple committing to annual updates as a signal of long-term confidence in the form factor. The anniversary iPhones, code-named V73 and V74, will feature nearly edge-to-edge curved-glass displays. Both the foldable and anniversary models will run on the A21 chip, code-named Naxos, built on a 2-nanometer process. Apple is already developing the A22 Pro on 1.4-nanometer technology for 2028's high-end iPhones, with Taiwan Semiconductor as the primary manufacturer and Intel under consideration for partial production.
All of this unfolds as John Ternus prepares to become CEO on September 1, making the 2027 product wave the opening statement of his tenure. Apple has cautioned that timelines remain fluid, and the company declined to comment officially. But the shape of the strategy is clear: rather than a single breakthrough device, Apple is building a coordinated ecosystem where cameras, chips, and software dissolve into the background — making artificial intelligence feel less like a feature and more like a quiet extension of everyday life.
Apple is preparing for what executives believe will be the company's most ambitious product launch cycle yet, with three major releases planned for late 2027. The centerpiece is a pair of AirPods equipped with cameras—not for photography, but as visual sensors that will feed real-world context directly into Siri. Alongside these earbuds, Apple plans to release a second-generation foldable iPhone and a special anniversary model marking two decades of the iPhone line. All three products have reached advanced stages of development, according to people with knowledge of the company's roadmap who requested anonymity because the plans remain confidential.
The camera AirPods represent Apple's most deliberate entry into the AI wearables market. Rather than capturing photos or video, the cameras embedded in the earbuds' stems will function as sensors, allowing users to ask Siri questions about objects and environments around them. Imagine standing in front of a refrigerator full of ingredients and asking what to make for dinner—the AirPods would analyze what's visible and provide suggestions. The device, internally code-named B798, was originally scheduled for 2026 but slipped as Apple grappled with developing the artificial intelligence software and visual models needed to identify objects in real time. The earbuds will look nearly identical to current AirPods Pro models, except for the cameras in the stems and small external lights that signal when data is being transmitted to Apple's servers for processing.
This camera-equipped wearable fits into Apple's broader Visual Intelligence initiative, a technology framework the company has already begun integrating into iOS 27 and the Vision Pro headset. The stakes are considerably higher for AirPods, though, because they represent a far more accessible entry point into AI-powered wearables than the Vision Pro's premium price tag. Apple is also exploring additional uses for the cameras, including contextual reminders and improved navigation during walking directions. Beyond the AirPods, the company is developing an AI-focused pendant with a camera that could be worn on clothing or as a necklace, and smart glasses code-named N50 are scheduled for late 2025, designed to compete directly with Meta's offerings.
The foldable iPhone strategy signals that Apple views the category as a permanent fixture in its lineup rather than an experimental product. The first-generation foldable launched this year; the second-generation model, code-named V78, will arrive in September 2027. By committing to annual updates, Apple is signaling confidence in the form factor's long-term viability. The anniversary iPhone models, code-named V73 and V74, will feature nearly edge-to-edge displays with curved glass wrapping around the sides, succeeding this year's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in similar sizes. Both the anniversary phones and the second-generation foldable will run on Apple's new A21 chip, internally called Naxos, built on a 2-nanometer manufacturing process.
The chip strategy reveals Apple's aggressive timeline for silicon advancement. This year's iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and first-generation foldable use the A20 Pro processor code-named Borneo. The standard iPhone 18 arriving next year will use a base A20 chip called Banda. A successor to the regular iPhone 18, running a standard A21 chip known as Nimos, is also in development. Looking further ahead, Apple is preparing the A22 Pro processor for high-end 2028 iPhones, which will be manufactured on 1.4-nanometer technology—a jump that will primarily involve Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, though Apple is also considering Intel for some production capacity.
The timing of this product blitz coincides with a significant leadership transition. John Ternus takes over as chief executive officer on September 1, and these releases will define the opening chapter of his tenure. The company has been testing next fall's devices alongside iOS 28, code-named Bell, which is slated for 2027. Last week Apple introduced iOS 27, featuring an updated version of Siri that will reach consumers later this year. While the roadmap is ambitious, Apple cautioned that timing remains fluid and could shift. The company declined to comment on the plans, citing their confidential nature. What emerges from this 2027 wave will likely shape how Apple positions itself in the AI era—not through a single breakthrough device, but through a coordinated ecosystem where cameras, chips, and software work in concert to make artificial intelligence feel less like a feature and more like a natural extension of how people interact with the world around them.
Notable Quotes
The offerings will be part of what Apple intends to be its biggest wave of new products yet— People familiar with Apple's plans
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why move the camera AirPods from 2026 to 2027? That's a significant delay for a product Apple clearly sees as important.
The software wasn't ready. Apple needed to build visual AI models that could actually understand what the cameras were seeing—not just detect shapes, but provide useful context. That's harder than it sounds, and they weren't willing to ship something half-baked.
So these aren't really cameras in the traditional sense. They're more like eyes for Siri.
Exactly. The cameras feed visual information into the AI, which then answers questions or provides suggestions. The light indicators on the stems are crucial—they tell people around the wearer that data is being collected and sent to the cloud. That's a privacy signal.
Why release three major products at once? Doesn't that dilute the marketing impact?
It's actually a statement. Apple is saying that AI wearables aren't a one-off experiment. The AirPods, the foldable, the anniversary iPhone—they're all pieces of the same vision. And the timing matters: new CEO, new iOS, new chips. It's a reset moment.
What about the smart glasses coming in 2025? How do they fit into this?
They're the premium play. The glasses will have more advanced cameras and can actually take photos and video. The AirPods are more accessible, more intimate. Together they give Apple multiple entry points into AI wearables at different price points.
The standard iPhone 18 won't get an update until next year, then not again until 2027. That's a long gap.
It is. But Apple is clearly prioritizing the Pro models and the foldable. The standard iPhone is the volume player—it doesn't need annual updates to sell. The interesting products are where the innovation is happening.