‘AirPods Ultra’ launching later this year sounds more likely than ever

// Make sure that nineto5ads exists, it will load ad once google tag exists window.nineto5ads = window.nineto5ads|| []; if (typeof adSizes === 'undefined') { var adSizes = {"leaderboard":{"mobile":[[320,50],[320,100]],"tablet":[[728,90],[320,100]],"desktop":[[970,250],[728,90],[970,70],[970,90]]},"sidebar":{"mobile":[300,250],"desktop":[[300,600],[300,250]]}}; } function getLeaderboardApstagSlotsSizes() { if ( window.innerWidth < 768 ) { return adSizes.leaderboard.mobile; } else if ( window.innerWidth < 1024 ) { return adSizes.leaderboard.tablet; } else { return adSizes.leaderboard.desktop; } } window.nineto5ads.push(function() { apstag.fetchBids({ slots: [{ slotID: "div-gpt-ad-1436850350386-0", slotName: "\/1049447\/9to5mac-Top", sizes: getLeaderboardApstagSlotsSizes() }], timeout: 2e3 }, function(bids) { googletag.display( "div-gpt-ad-1436850350386-0" ); apstag.setDisplayBids(); googletag.pubads().refresh([leaderboardAdSlot]); }); }); AirPods AirPods Ultra ‘AirPods Ultra’ launching later this year sounds more likely than ever Ryan Christoffel | Apr 28 2026 - 7:43 am PT 0 Comments Apple has new AirPods launching later this year that we’ve been referring to as a high-end AirPods Pro model, but recent reporting now makes it seem more likely that they’ll be the first ‘AirPods Ultra.’ New AirPods with built-in IR cameras could be the first ‘Ultra’ model Last fall, AirPods Pro 3 launched with impressive gains in Active Noise Cancellation and audio quality, a new fit, built-in heart rate sensor, a second-gen Ultra Wideband chip, and more. Apple has consistently shipped new AirPods Pro every three years. The first model arrived in 2019, its successor in 2022, and AirPods Pro 3 in 2025. But rumors have long indicated there’s another AirPods Pro model coming this year. One of its main new features is the addition of infrared (IR) cameras, which will unlock a variety of AI-centric experiences via visual intelligence. Hand gestures might be supported too. And rumors indicate a next-gen H3 chip could debut as well, likely to power the camera capabilities. These new AirPods are expected to cost around $299—that’s $50 more than AirPods Pro 3. Like with AirPods 4, where you can buy a model with ANC for $179 or without for $129, we’ve been expecting Apple to brand this new model as a high-end AirPods Pro 3 tier. However, following reports this week, a new ‘AirPods Ultra’ branding seems the more likely outcome. Why ‘AirPods Ultra’ are a good fit for Apple’s expanding Ultra lineup Yesterday Macworld reported that Apple plans to use ‘Ultra’ branding for new iPhone and Mac models later this year. The foldable iPhone will be called iPhone Ultra, as several other leakers have already claimed. And the big MacBook Pro redesign will actually be the first MacBook Ultra. Read more: iPhone Ultra is coming: Six new features in Apple’s high-end model Read more: Apple’s new MacBook Ultra could be exactly what I’ve been wanting If Apple does indeed name both products ‘Ultra,’ I think the chances of us getting the first ‘AirPods Ultra’ this year are high too. Mark Gurman even hinted at it last month, and this weekend reiterated that the new AirPods will represent a “major new product category.” It’s certainly still possible Apple will use ‘AirPods Pro 3 with AI’ branding, or something like that. But ‘AirPods Ultra’ would fit better with how Ultra is being used for these other products. As I wrote yesterday, iPhone Ultra and MacBook Ultra are likely to earn their…

This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at 9to5Mac.