By the end of 2027, Apple is preparing several major new products at once. According to sources, a single wave will bring AirPods with a built-in camera, a new generation of the foldable iPhone, and a separate model for the 20th anniversary of the lineup. The most interesting part of this rumor is that Apple hasn’t even publicly shown the first foldable iPhone yet, but work on its successor apparently is already underway. The source of the information is Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, who usually has a good understanding of the company’s inner workings. Gurman rarely gets the fact of development wrong, although timelines in his predictions sometimes shift. Let me note right away: this is an insider report, not an official announcement, so the specifics should be taken with a grain of salt.
Originally, AirPods were expected this year, but apparently the release has been pushed back
Apple’s Main New Products for 2027
According to Bloomberg, the company has an entire set of devices planned for late 2027. The report mentions three key products that Apple wants to release around the same time:
Apple is working on several interesting devices for 2027 at once
- AirPods with a built-in camera. Earbuds with which Apple hopes to establish itself in the AI gadget market.
- Second-generation foldable iPhone. An update to the very first foldable model, which the company is rumored to release ahead of the other new products.
- Anniversary iPhone for the 20th anniversary. A separate device dedicated to the twentieth anniversary of the iconic lineup.
There’s nothing more to extract from the publication: no prices, no specs, and no exact date. Gurman merely outlined the composition of the future lineup, and details will surely surface gradually as the time approaches.
AirPods with Camera: What We Know About the New Device
Mini cameras will appear in the stems of the earbuds
The most unusual detail of the rumor is, of course, the camera in the earbuds. According to Bloomberg, for Apple this is a way to gain a foothold in the rapidly growing AI device market. The trend is clear: smart glasses and earbuds with sensors are being actively explored by other major players, so Apple simply doesn’t want to cede this segment to competitors. Earlier, the same outlet reported that camera-equipped AirPods have reached an advanced testing stage.
The logic is roughly this: the camera sees what the owner sees and sends the image to the voice assistant so it can provide tips about the surroundings. Some competing AI gadgets work in a similar way. But there are no specific use cases in the source, so it’s too early to talk about real-world usefulness. Interestingly, taking photos and videos with such AirPods reportedly won’t be possible in the traditional sense. The camera here is more of an eye for the assistant rather than a replacement for the smartphone’s main camera.
What the 2027 Foldable iPhone Might Look Like
The phrase “second-generation foldable iPhone” directly suggests that by 2027, the first foldable model will already be on the market. Bloomberg separately noted: hints of a future foldable device were found in the iOS 27 code, which indirectly confirms Apple’s movement in this direction.
The foldable iPhone’s design is unlikely to change much compared to the first generation
For the average buyer, the takeaway is simple. The foldable iPhone turned out to be not a one-time experiment but an entire direction that Apple intends to develop further. For comparison, foldable Android smartphones have existed for several years now but have never become mainstream precisely because of their high price and questions about hinge durability. Expecting a budget-friendly price tag from Apple here is hardly realistic.
What the Anniversary iPhone 20 Will Look Like in 2027
The first iPhone was released in 2007, which means in 2027 the lineup turns exactly twenty years old. According to Bloomberg, Apple is preparing a separate anniversary model for this date. The company has already marked such milestone dates with special devices — just recall the iPhone X for the tenth anniversary. Notably, the iPhone X was the first to introduce the front camera notch and abandon the Home button, significantly changing the familiar look of the smartphone.
The anniversary iPhone will have a screen on all sides
Exactly what this device will look like isn’t mentioned in the source, so any talk about its screen, design, and price right now is pure speculation. However, it is known that Apple is actively experimenting with radical formats. So the anniversary model could well turn out to be much bolder than conventional smartphones.
Should You Wait for Apple’s New 2027 Devices?
In short, there’s no need to do anything right now. All three devices, if the plans hold, won’t appear until late 2027 at the earliest, which by industry standards is very far away. Timelines and the lineup composition could still change multiple times, as even reliable Apple insider reports regularly get pushed back.
This news is most useful for those planning major purchases a couple of years ahead or simply following the company’s direction. And if you need earbuds or a smartphone today, focus on the current models. Waiting for a device that’s at least a year and a half away and about which almost nothing is known doesn’t make much sense.
