Leaked video in macOS beta reveals Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods

Apple ↗ 1.45% appears to have inadvertently confirmed its long-rumored camera-equipped AirPods through a demo video hidden in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate, which landed Monday night. The clip, discovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, shows a man wearing a new pair of AirPods and holding up a book while a Siri voiceover explains the product's core feature: "With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later."macrumors+1

The discovery marks the first visual confirmation of a product that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reported on since earlier this year. Gurman had previously indicated that the AirPods' cameras would act as eyes for Siri, capturing low-resolution visual information about the wearer's surroundings without snapping photos or recording video.pcmag+1

What the Leak Reveals

The AirPods shown in the video appear largely indistinguishable from the current AirPods Pro 3, though The Verge noted a slightly thicker stem that Gurman had predicted would be necessary to accommodate the cameras. References in macOS 26.7 also point to the codename B790, which Gurman had identified as a version that could launch as early as this year.theverge+1

MacRumors also found that users will receive alerts if hair or other obstructions block the cameras' field of view, with a notification reading: "To get the most accurate information about things in your environment, make sure AirPods are not covered."macrumors+1

Privacy Concerns Already Mounting

The leak has prompted immediate privacy questions. Unlike Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have a visible camera lens and LED indicator, the AirPods' cameras appear nearly invisible from the outside. Engadget noted that despite assurances about low-resolution capture, the earbuds are "still technically a surveillance device." Gurman has reported the final product may include some sort of indicator when cameras are active.engadget+1

Online reaction has been swift, with users raising concerns about AirPods being banned from gyms and locker rooms, and the broader implication that all AirPods may eventually be viewed with suspicion.macrumors

What Comes Next

The macOS 26.7 release candidate also contained references to several other unreleased products, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Ultra foldable, and a new HomePod mini. Apple is expected to hold its annual fall event in September, where the camera-equipped AirPods could be unveiled alongside the next generation of iPhones.pcmag+2