Apple Accidentally Leaks Camera AirPods Demo in macOS Tahoe RC [Video]

Apple's rumored camera-equipped AirPods have surfaced in a short demo video hidden inside the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate. The clip, posted to X by Aaron Perris, offers the clearest look yet at how Visual Intelligence could work on the earbuds.



In the video, a man wearing AirPods holds up a book for Visual Intelligence to identify. A Siri voiceover explains: "With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later." Though the cameras themselves are not visible, the earbuds look nearly identical to the current AirPods Pro, with slightly thicker stems. Based on the demo and previous reports, the cameras let Siri interpret what the wearer is looking at, answer questions about their surroundings, or save items for later.


The release candidate also includes a direct reference to setting up Visual Intelligence on the AirPods, along with a warning if hair or anything else blocks the field of view. "To get the most accurate information about things in your environment, make sure AirPods are not covered," the alert says. The software also identifies the earbuds by the codename B790, a model Mark Gurman has reported could launch as soon as September. If that timeline holds, Apple could introduce the AirPods alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone Ultra at its September event.

Earlier this year, the earbuds entered design validation testing, and iOS 27 beta code later detailed how Visual AI would process images from two cameras positioned on either side of a user's head. AirPods aren't intended to take traditional photos, but to analyze their surroundings.

The B790 AirPods are reportedly separate from another camera-equipped model, codenamed B798, that's expected in 2027. The demo video, setup strings, and other B790 references found in the release candidate indicate Apple is getting closer to unveiling the first model. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on X, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for updates.

Here is your first look at AirPods with Cameras in action using Visual Intelligence.

This video file came from macOS 26.7 RC pic.twitter.com/yo7RI4MCeu

— Aaron (@aaronp613) August 18, 2026