It might seem like AirPods Pro 3 only just conquered the wireless earbuds market with their pulse sensors and real-time translation feature. But Apple appears to already be preparing something far more ambitious. We’re talking about AirPods Ultra — an entirely new lineup of earbuds with artificial intelligence and gesture control, rumors about which are rapidly gaining momentum. They are set to become one of four Ultra gadgets from Apple expected to see the light of day in 2026.
AirPods Ultra are already in development: everything known about Apple’s new earbuds so far. Image: tomsguide.com
How AirPods Ultra Differ from AirPods Pro 3
AirPods Pro 3 are rightfully considered among the smartest wireless earbuds from Apple. They can monitor heart rate directly in your ear and translate speech in real time. Impressive, right? But there’s one catch: there’s no artificial intelligence in them.
AirPods Pro 3 are great, but Apple wants to make even cooler earbuds. Image: pocket-lint.com
It’s precisely the AI integration that will be the main differentiator of AirPods Ultra. According to well-known insider Mark Gurman, the new earbuds will transmit visual intelligence data directly to Siri. In simpler terms, AirPods Ultra will be able to “see” the world around you and offer suggestions through the voice assistant.
But that’s not all. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, visual intelligence will enable control of the earbuds through mid-air gestures, as well as deeper integration with Apple Vision Pro. In effect, AirPods Ultra could become a full-fledged companion for Apple’s spatial computing.
New Features of AirPods Ultra
One of the most intriguing details is the infrared sensors. These will apparently serve as the technical foundation for the “visual intelligence” of the new earbuds. Thanks to them, AirPods Ultra will be able to analyze the space around the user and transmit this information to Siri through the Apple Intelligence system.
Infrared sensors the size of a grain of rice could completely change how we interact with earbuds
As for changes to the speaker or microphone design, there’s no specific data yet. However, as analysts note, Apple traditionally improves audio components with each new generation, so updates in this area are quite expected. The new model will likely feature improved noise cancellation and more precise adaptive audio algorithms that will work in tandem with the infrared sensors.
It’s also worth noting that infrared sensors are already actively used in the Apple ecosystem — for example, in Face ID on iPhone and in the Vision Pro headset. Bringing this technology to earbuds seems like a logical step, given that Apple has long been striving for tighter integration across all its devices.
How Much Will AirPods Ultra Cost
The price question remains open, and insider opinions are divided. An insider going by @Kosutami_Ito on platform X claims that the price of the new Ultra model will stay at the level of the current AirPods Pro. But Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo think otherwise: according to them, the price could be higher.
How much higher? Potentially up to $349, although the $299 mark looks more realistic. Given the presence of infrared sensors and full integration with Apple Intelligence, a certain premium would be perfectly logical. After all, these aren’t just earbuds — they’re essentially a wearable AI gadget.
When Will AirPods Ultra Be Released
The release date is even murkier than the price. No one is naming specific dates yet. Traditionally, Apple announces new AirPods models at its September event dedicated to new devices. That’s still several months away, so an announcement in fall 2025 is quite plausible.
Now earbuds will be able to see the world around them. Image: beebom.com
That said, there’s reason for caution. Updated AirPods Max 2 have long been the subject of rumors with a supposed release date back in 2025. But the year has already ended, and no concrete details have emerged. So Apple could well push back the timeline for Ultra as well.
What’s clear right now is this: Apple is clearly betting on earbuds as a full-fledged AI platform. If AirPods Ultra truly get visual intelligence and gesture control, this won’t just be a product lineup refresh — it will be an entirely new category of devices.
Earbuds with artificial intelligence, infrared sensors, and gesture control — just a couple of years ago, this sounded like a science fiction scenario. But Apple appears to already be turning this into reality. All that’s left is to wait for fall and see just how far the company is willing to go.
