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Kuo: Apple Planning Smart Home Camera and New AirPods With More Health Features

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In a blog post today, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed two new products that Apple apparently plans to release in a few years from now, including a smart home camera and updated AirPods with more health management features.

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Kuo said mass production of Apple's smart home camera is scheduled to begin in 2026, and the company apparently aims to sell tens of millions of them over the long term. He said the camera will have wireless connectivity, and deep integration with Apple Intelligence and Siri, but he did not mention any other specific features.

Previous rumors have indicated that Apple is planning to release a smart home display, but that device is expected to launch as early as 2025, so it seems like the 2026 camera that Kuo has mentioned here is a different product.

As for the AirPods, Kuo simply said that future models of the earbuds will have "more health management features" like the Apple Watch, and that Chinese manufacturer Goertek will serve as the primary supplier of a 2026 AirPods model. The new smart home camera will also be assembled by Goertek, according to the analyst.

We previously reported that Apple's upcoming Powerbeats Pro 2 will offer heart rate monitoring during workouts, and perhaps that feature will extend to AirPods in the future. In addition, health-focused sensors that could allow for features like body temperature measuring have been rumored for AirPods in the past.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Tag: Ming-Chi Kuo
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Caution)
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Top Rated Comments

Muero Avatar
Muero
22 months ago

Fix HomeKit first. Got a new lifx bulb with HomeKit. Control center widget is buggy. Light goes offline (no response). Wall Light switch control takes a couple toggles.
Homekit seems super unreliable.
I think the biggest help here would be if Apple would bring back their AirPort line of Wi-Fi routers. Oftentimes, complaints about HomeKit are really complaints about flaky Wi-Fi.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
@
@Brett
22 months ago
Apple should have bought Nest instead of of letting Google run it into the ground. But if Apple is doing smart home cameras. Count me in. I will happily ditch the Nest stuff and get full fledged Homekit gear.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CapitalIdea Avatar
CapitalIdea
22 months ago

HomeKit cameras would be great, but I’ll hold my excitement until I see how high the Apple Tax is on them.
People: “Apple products cost too much! I’m tired of the greedy apple tax!”

Same people: “omg I can’t believe my discount electronic junk from some no-name company on Amazon barely worked and now is losing support after 2 months! I paid a good 20 dollars on that security system!”
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adammusic Avatar
adammusic
22 months ago
Fix HomeKit first. Got a new lifx bulb with HomeKit. Control center widget is buggy. Light goes offline (no response). Wall Light switch control takes a couple toggles.
Homekit seems super unreliable.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
nutmac
22 months ago
I hope I am wrong, but I suspect their smart home camera won't be what most of us wants -- doorbell camera and floodlight camera. Instead, I suspect it will likely be an indoor camera, perhaps with wheels.

I don't think Apple wants to deal with anything that requires that requires or demands a professional installation.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
@
@Brett
22 months ago

I think the biggest help here would be if Apple would bring back their AirPort line of Wi-Fi routers. Oftentimes, complaints about HomeKit are really complaints about flaky Wi-Fi.
Loved the Airports. Still have my TimeCapsule and AirPort Extreme. Though they are not in use. I use the Amplifi Alien. It helps now that you can set a default home hub and choose one that is cabled in. That has reduced dropouts in audio and Siri commands at home.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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