The latest AirPods rumors ahead of the Apple event: AirPods 5, cameras, and AI

In early September, we expect Apple to show off at least a few new iPhone 18 models. But there might be a little something for AirPods lovers at the recently announced Sept. 9 special event.

Rumor has it Apple will launch multiple new AirPods models, and we're just two weeks away from finding out for sure. However, the tagline for Apple's event is "Surprise and shine," so who knows exactly what's in store?

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As always, we're here to cut through the noise and give you everything you need to know ahead of time. Here are the latest AirPods rumors ahead of the September iPhone event.

Two new AirPods 5 models

Whenever a big slew of Apple announcements is imminent, it's always worth checking in with Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who usually prognosticates correctly about the future of Apple hardware.

Gurman recently reported that Apple is gearing up to announce the AirPods 5 in the near future, possibly at the September event. For reference, Gurman recently reported Apple was getting ready to launch a new Mac Mini, and Apple did exactly that a day later. In short, Gurman's track record is deeply impressive.

Regarding new AirPods, Gurman did not elaborate on how exactly the AirPods 5 would be different from the AirPods 4 released in 2024, but he did expand his reporting on X to say there would be two models: one with active noise cancellation and one without. That was also the case with the AirPods 4.

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That is, unfortunately, seemingly all there is to know about AirPods 5 right now, suggesting this would be a very iterative update. It doesn't seem like Apple is keen to announce the next batch of AirPods Pro earbuds soon, in case you prefer silicone ear tips. The AirPods Pro 3 were refreshed just last year, so we might have to wait a year or two for a new update to that model.

Even without knowing for sure what to expect from AirPods 5, we can make some educated guesses. Apple will probably enhance sound quality in some way, and battery life could always use a boost, too. Otherwise, we'll just have to wait a couple of weeks to find out, presumably.

AirPods with cameras?

Another product that may or may not show up at the September event is a brand new AirPods model with a very interesting and unexpected new feature — cameras.

That's right, the long-rumored AirPods with cameras could be just two weeks away.

Simply put, these AirPods would have cameras built into the stems. They recently appeared in a macOS beta video, so it seems all but certain that they're real and coming soon. The video doesn't show much, but it does definitely show a new pair of AirPods that you can't currently buy.

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Some previous reporting by Gurman gives us an idea of what to expect from the AirPods Ultra. Apparently, the cameras will not be used to capture images or video at all; instead, they will only be used to tell an onboard AI assistant what the user is looking at, similar to the way AI in contemporary smart glasses works. That doesn't mean there won't be any controversy regarding privacy concerns, of course, but it does mean this isn't necessarily a Google Glass situation. Think Visual Intelligence and AI assistants, not Meta-RayBans and creepy videos.

Gurman also reported that Apple has been working on two versions of this product internally, with one of them winning out and being fast-tracked to ship in the near future. That might be the one we've seen in the leaked video. There's a real possibility this product appears at the iPhone 18 event, but as always with Apple, there's also a possibility it won't. The event is called "Surprise and shine," after all.

AirPods Pro or AirPods Ultra?

What are these rumored AirPods with cameras going to be called? No one outside of Apple Park knows for sure, but there are two rumored possibilities. Initially, these AirPods were rumored to be called AirPods Ultra, or AirPods Pro Ultra. That would make sense, as Apple is rumored to be working on a premium iPhone Ultra and MacBook Ultra. However, MacRumors recently reported that they'll be released as a variation on the AirPods Pro. MacRumors cited references to the product in macOS Tahoe that suggest AirPods Pro branding.

Will AirPods increase in price?

Unfortunately, we can never rule out a price increase in 2026. Thanks to the global memory crisis, Apple and other tech companies have been raising prices all year long. The new iPhones are almost certain to see higher prices than previous models. Audio products haven't seen as many price increases as laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles have, so if we're lucky, a new AirPods 5 would cost the same as the AirPods 4, which are priced at $129 (without ANC) and $179 (with ANC) — or as low as $99 on sale.

Hopefully, all of these questions will be answered on Sept. 9 at the September Apple event. Mashable will be attending that event and reporting live on all of the announcements, so check back for more info.