Apple is preparing one of the biggest waves of new products in its history for late 2027, headlined by AirPods with built-in cameras, a second-generation foldable iPhone, and a redesigned iPhone built to mark the device’s 20th anniversary, according to people familiar with the plans cited by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on Tuesday.
The reporting points to a year in which Apple tries to prove it can still set the pace in consumer technology, especially in the race to put artificial intelligence into devices people wear.
The most novel of the three is the camera-equipped AirPods, code-named B798 internally and described as Apple’s first AI wearable.
The tiny cameras in the earbud stems are not meant for taking photos or video.
Instead, they feed information about a wearer’s surroundings to Siri, so the assistant can answer questions about nearby objects, offer reminders tied to where someone is, or sharpen walking directions.
The earbuds would look much like the current AirPods Pro models, with cameras added to the stem, and a small light would signal to others when those cameras are active — an attempt to address privacy concerns.
The product was originally targeted for 2026 but has reportedly been pushed back.
The delay stems in part from Apple’s widely reported struggles with its next-generation AI software and a revamped Siri, along with the challenge of building visual models that can reliably identify what users are looking at.
That timing matters because it highlights how Apple’s AI setbacks are beginning to affect its hardware roadmap at a time when competitors are moving aggressively.
The second-generation foldable iPhone signals that Apple sees foldable devices as a long-term business rather than a one-time experiment.
The company is widely expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone in 2026, with a follow-up model arriving roughly a year later.
For a company whose iPhone business still generates the majority of its revenue, a successful foldable line could create a new premium category and encourage upgrades from existing customers.
The centerpiece of the roadmap may be the 20th-anniversary iPhone, expected to commemorate two decades since the original iPhone debuted in 2007.
Reports describe a device that breaks sharply from today’s designs, featuring displays that stretch nearly edge-to-edge and glass that curves around the sides.
Apple has successfully used anniversary editions before to drive demand.
The iPhone X, launched in 2017 for the product’s tenth anniversary, sparked one of the company’s biggest upgrade cycles.
A similarly dramatic redesign in 2027 could have the same effect.
Under the hood, both the anniversary model and the new foldable device are expected to run on Apple’s next-generation A21 processor, built using advanced 2-nanometer manufacturing technology from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).
Reports indicate Apple is already exploring even smaller 1.4-nanometer chips for future devices and may seek additional manufacturing capacity from Intel, a notable shift given the company’s longstanding reliance on TSMC.
The broader strategy reflects a growing battle over what comes after the smartphone.
Technology companies across the industry are investing heavily in AI-powered devices that can see, hear, and understand the world around users.
Meta is betting on smart glasses.
Apple is reportedly developing its own smart-glasses platform while simultaneously exploring AI-enabled earbuds.
Putting cameras and AI sensors into AirPods gives Apple a way to enter the market using a product that already has hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
There are important caveats.
The plans come from unnamed sources, Apple does not comment on unreleased products, and Bloomberg’s report notes that development schedules remain fluid and could change.
All three products are still being tested, and features may evolve before launch.
For consumers, the roadmap offers a glimpse of where personal technology is heading — toward devices that constantly observe their surroundings and provide real-time assistance through artificial intelligence.
For investors, the question is whether Apple can transform its AI ambitions into products people are willing to buy after a period in which many analysts believe the company has fallen behind rivals in the AI race.
If these products arrive as planned, 2027 could become one of the most important years in Apple’s history since the original iPhone changed the technology industry nearly two decades ago.
Cupertino, Calif. — JBizNews Desk
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