Airpods may not see significant updates until 2026, IR camera-equipped AirPods would enter mass production in 2026; Apple analyst Kuo

Last year in September 2024, Apple unveiled AirPods 4 and updated AirPod Max, and this year, the brand was expected to launch Apple AirPods Pro3, but a new update by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reveals a slightly different story.

AirPods may not see significant updates until 2026 (aligning with my earlier prediction that IR camera-equipped AirPods would enter mass production in 2026). A lighter version of the AirPods Max is expected to enter mass production in 2027.

AirPods可能要到2026年才會有顯著更新…

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 18, 2025

It is revealed that AirPods may not see significant updates until 2026. Further, he has mentioned that an IR camera equipped with AirPods would enter mass production in 2026. This camera-equipped AirPod is expected to offer similar functionality as the smart glasses, in-air gestures control, and enhanced audio experience, while the addition of cameras to the earbuds could be used to gather data for AI.

Apple has not released a new hardware generation of AirPods Pro since 2022, but the company has continued to release new features for AirPods Pro 2 through software updates. Reports suggested that next-gen AirPods Pro will be offering heart rate monitoring capabilities with the help of. H3 chip. This feature is already offered in Powerbeats Pro 2.

Further, Kuo has reported that a lighter version of the AirPods Max is expected to enter mass production in 2027. The current AirPods Max are built with high-end materials, including aluminum ear cups, which make the headphones a bit bulky at 386g.

Stay tuned with The Tech Outlook for more latest updates.