Our Take
Mark Gurman's rumor timeline is plausible but two years out, and Apple's new CEO John Ternus and looming component shortages could alter any of these plans.
Why it matters
Apple's hardware roadmap matters to developers building for Siri and to manufacturers betting on smart glasses adoption. But rumors this far ahead carry execution risk.
Do this week
Developers: plan Siri visual-context features for late 2027 launch, but treat iOS 28 timelines as provisional until Apple confirms at WWDC 2026.
Apple's 2027 hardware pipeline includes camera AirPods and a second foldable
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reported that Apple is developing camera-equipped AirPods Pro 3 scheduled for late 2027 launch. The earbuds will include lights to indicate cloud data uploads and are currently being tested internally with iOS 28 (next year's update), while shipping versions will pair with iOS 27 this fall.
The cameras will provide Siri with visual context about the wearer's surroundings, according to Gurman's sources. Apple plans this capability as a precursor to a future smart glasses product.
Separately, Gurman reported a second-generation foldable iPhone will follow the inaugural model expected this fall. This signals Apple's commitment to the foldable category, though he offered no specific timeline for the Gen 2 device.
On processors, Gurman reported that the standard iPhone 18 will likely slip to 2025 with an A20-class chip similar to 2024 models. The 2027 flagship phones will jump to a 2nm A21, with the A22 Pro planned for 1.4nm process technology. Apple is "considering" using Intel alongside TSMC for production, Gurman wrote.
A rumored 20th-anniversary iPhone model (V73/V74 variants) will ship in 2027 with a nearly edge-to-edge display and curved glass wrapping the sides.
Two-year roadmaps are provisional, especially with new leadership
Apple's hardware plans are worth tracking for developers and hardware partners, but Gurman himself noted material headwinds: John Ternus recently took over as CEO, a RAM and component shortage is looming, and AI deployment pressure is mounting across the industry. Executive transitions and supply-chain disruptions have historically forced Apple to defer or cancel products already in late-stage testing.
The camera AirPods specifically depend on Siri's ability to interpret visual input with low latency and privacy-preserving processing. That feature set is not yet public, and its feasibility by late 2027 remains unproven.
Treat the iOS 28 timeline as a planning marker, not a deadline
If you are building Siri integrations or preparing visual-context features for accessories, use late 2027 as a reference point for feature roadmap planning, but do not commit engineering resources or partner agreements to iOS 28 timelines until Apple announces these capabilities officially. Gurman's sourcing is credible, but product plans at this distance change. Watch for WWDC 2025 and 2026 announcements to confirm the camera AirPods and Siri visual capabilities; that is when the timeline becomes actionable.