macOS Update Accidentally Leaks Apple's Unreleased Camera AirPods

Apple accidentally included a promotional video for an unannounced pair of camera-equipped AirPods inside the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate.

Screenshot obtained by AllBlogThings team.

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered the file inside the operating system build distributed to developers on Monday night.

The video clip shows a user wearing white earbuds while holding a book up to face level.

A voiceover attributed to Siri describes the main function of the new audio hardware:

"With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later."

The earbuds in the video match the design language of existing AirPods Pro models, featuring slightly thicker stems to fit internal camera components.

Watch the leaked video here:

System files in the macOS software identify the device under internal codename B790.

Technical log files inside the update show how the operating system handles data from the earbud sensors.

One specific error log directly addresses the visual data feed:

"B790 start image stream failed for left bud."

The operating system includes specific setup warnings for users who wear the hardware.

Hair, clothing, or hats covering the earbuds can block the sensor lenses and prevent Siri from analyzing nearby objects.

Apple wrote an explicit setup prompt into the onboarding software to handle sensor blockages:

"To get the most accurate information about things in your environment, make sure AirPods are not covered."

The built-in sensors do not capture standard high-resolution photos or record videos for user storage.

Instead, the hardware relies on low-resolution infrared lenses to feed real-time visual information to Siri.

Users can look at an item (such as food inside a refrigerator or a physical document) and prompt the voice assistant to process text, log information, or offer directions.

Wearable cameras on consumer devices continue to spark debate surrounding public privacy and covert recordings.

Early hardware leaks indicate Apple added an external LED light to the earbud stem that illuminates whenever data uploads to cloud servers.

Apple engineering teams began daily field testing with functional prototypes in May after the hardware reached the design validation test stage.

The presence of complete onboarding videos and interface prompts in the release candidate software indicates finalized manufacturing specifications.

Apple could announce the B790 AirPods as early as September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a new foldable iPhone Ultra.

Internal reporting suggests Apple may position the device above current $249 AirPods Pro models, considering brand names such as AirPods Ultra.

The macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate reveals code for several other upcoming Apple hardware products.

Software strings list home hub hardware under codenames J490 and J491, an updated HomePod mini under codename B525, and a standalone security camera accessory listed as J229.

System files also reference two unreleased Beats products and a fourth-generation AirPods Pro build designated as AirPodsPro1,4.