Code inside iOS 27 basically confirms Apple’s next wearable is in the making

While we know that the iPhone 18 Pro and the foldable iPhone Ultra are coming in September, there’s much less certainty for Apple’s upcoming wearable products. However, a newly unearthed code inside the iOS 27 beta may have confirmed at least one of the company’s rumored wearables.

iOS 27 code mentions an unannounced Apple wearable

Code inside the second developer beta of iOS 27 includes hints for a new Apple wearable. Discovered by developer Sam Henri Gold, the code mentions a device with the code name B790, which should support at least some features related to Visual Intelligence.

More specifically, the code includes instructions for the way Visual Intelligence will function on the device to recognize things like landmarks, text, known objects, and brand logos. Two of the examples include the Eiffel Tower and a coffee mug.

Most likely referring to the AirPods Ultra

While Gold speculates that the product is new smart glasses, its code name is more likely to belong to the AirPods Ultra. Those are the rumored AirPods with cameras, which are reportedly closer to launch than Apple’s smart glasses. 

The codename B790 also fits Apple’s previous earphones, with the B788 name used for the AirPods Pro 3. According to other leaks, the internal name used for the smart glasses is N50, which is just another reason to believe the code doesn’t refer to them.

These clues surface right when rumors that Apple has cancelled the camera-equipped AirPods started popping up. Users on Reddit didn’t seem too sad about that development, and even called the AirPods Ultra “a stupid idea to begin with.”

A new type of wearable

Apple’s next wave of wearables is expected to have Visual Intelligence as a core feature across devices. That makes sense for a pair of smart glasses with cameras, similar to the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, but it feels less natural on earbuds.

Still, Apple’s idea is to allow users to just look at something and ask Siri to provide you with information about it. The feature already works on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, and it’s part of the Camera app on iOS 27.

This idea needs Apple magic

I can’t imagine what would make me pay extra to have cameras on a product I buy to listen to music on. Unless the AirPods Ultra come with an unmissable killer feature, I believe they’ll join the iPhone Air and the Apple Vision Pro in Apple’s failed products list.

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