Apple’s premium earbuds may soon move beyond simple stem taps. A new high-end version of the AirPods Pro is reportedly in development, and it could introduce gesture awareness and spatial interaction features that hint at Apple’s broader push into spatial computing.
Last year, Apple refreshed its flagship earbuds with the launch of the AirPods Pro 3. That update arrived roughly three years after the AirPods Pro 2 and delivered noticeable improvements in audio performance and active noise cancellation. Traditionally, Apple updates its Pro-grade earbuds every couple of years, but new reports suggest the company could break from that pattern sooner than expected.
According to recent leaks, Apple is working on an enhanced version of the current AirPods Pro 3 rather than a full next-generation model. This upgraded edition could debut alongside upcoming flagship devices at Apple’s fall hardware event, where new iPhones and other major products are typically introduced.
Images and early details shared by Digital Trends show that the design is unlikely to change dramatically. Instead, the focus appears to be on internal hardware and new interaction capabilities, positioning these earbuds as more than just an audio accessory.
Vision Pro may be behind Apple’s unusual AirPods strategy
Speculation around a higher-end AirPods Pro variant first surfaced in late 2025. Well-known supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested Apple was preparing a significant hardware upgrade featuring infrared cameras built directly into the earbuds. Those claims emerged shortly before Apple’s September iPhone event, adding fuel to the rumors.
Infrared sensors could allow the earbuds to better understand their surroundings, including detecting hand movement and gestures in real time. This type of spatial awareness would pair naturally with Apple’s mixed-reality ambitions, especially when used alongside the Vision Pro headset. Apple has already demonstrated gesture-based controls in its spatial computing platform, making the AirPods a logical extension of that ecosystem.
Apple’s Vision Pro relies heavily on hand tracking and spatial input, and integrating similar capabilities into AirPods could enable more immersive experiences. Enhanced spatial audio, gesture-based controls, and environmental awareness are all potential outcomes of such a hardware shift.
What the rumored high-end AirPods Pro could include
A separate report from a Chinese leaker known as Instant Digital, shared via MacRumors, claims Apple does not plan to brand this model as AirPods Pro 4. Instead, it would be an iterative upgrade aimed at users who plan to pair the earbuds with the Vision Pro. The price could land around $300, slightly above the current AirPods Pro lineup.
If accurate, Apple could sell both versions side by side, giving customers a choice between standard premium earbuds and a more advanced spatial-focused model. That approach would mirror Apple’s broader strategy of offering tiered hardware options across its product range.
Among the rumored changes is the removal of traditional pressure sensors in favor of gesture-based input. The earbuds could also feature a new H3 chip designed to process spatial data, hand movements, and environmental inputs more efficiently. This chip would reportedly translate those signals into commands for compatible devices, including the Vision Pro.
At this stage, details remain limited, and Apple has not confirmed any of the reports. Still, the idea of AirPods evolving into spatial input devices highlights how Apple may be rethinking the role of wearables within its ecosystem.
With Apple continuing to blur the lines between audio accessories and spatial computing hardware, the AirPods Pro could soon become a key part of how users interact with future Apple devices.
