Plans for an Apple Watch with Visual Intelligence and built-in cameras have been abandoned, but Apple’s AirPods could still receive a similar upgrade.
Apple has allegedly abandoned its plans for a camera-equipped Apple Watch.
The idea of a camera-equipped Apple Watch is anything but new, appearing in Apple’s patent applications as far back as 2019. The company has even considered multiple ways of including a camera, such as incorporating it into the Digital Crown or the Apple Watch strap.
More recently, in March 2025, a rumor suggested that the Apple Watch would gain cameras for Visual Intelligence features as well as world monitoring by 2027. On Thursday, however, a Bloomberg report revealed that Apple has since given up on the idea, and added that the company was working on smart glasses, set to debut in 2026.
Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible
