Apple’s 20th Anniversary: 2027 iPhone Pro Ultra 2 and Camera-Enabled AirPods Unveiled

Apple plans to launch a series of anniversary products in 2027, including the iPhone 20 Pro and a new iPhone Ultra 2, according to reports from Notebookcheck.fr and iPhoneSoft. The company is also developing AirPods with integrated cameras for a late 2027 release, according to Investing.com France.

The product push coincides with the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone. Notebookcheck.fr describes the upcoming cycle as the largest wave of new releases the company has ever seen.

What models are expected in the 2027 iPhone lineup?

The 2027 lineup will center on an anniversary edition of the iPhone. According to iGeneration, this anniversary model will be available in two different sizes.

iPhoneSoft reports that the iPhone 20 Pro will be offered in two sizes, sitting alongside a separate iPhone Ultra 2 model. This suggests a further divergence between the Pro and Ultra tiers, moving beyond the current Pro and Pro Max distinction.

Apple’s shift toward an Ultra brand for its phones mirrors the strategy used for the Apple Watch Ultra, which targets high-end users with increased durability and battery capacity.

When will AirPods with cameras be released?

Apple expects to release AirPods featuring integrated cameras by the end of 2027, according to Investing.com France. These “intelligent AirPods” are intended to expand the functionality of the wearables beyond audio.

However, the development faces technical hurdles. TVA Nouvelles reports that Apple faces numerous obstacles in integrating cameras into the small form factor of the AirPods without compromising fit or battery life.

The contrast between these reports shows a gap between Apple’s internal roadmap and the practical engineering challenges. While Investing.com France focuses on the 2027 target date, TVA Nouvelles emphasizes the difficulty of the implementation.

How does the 2027 roadmap differ from previous cycles?

The proposed 2027 schedule represents a departure from the standard iterative updates Apple has followed since the iPhone 12. By introducing a dedicated Ultra 2 model alongside two Pro sizes, Apple is expanding the premium segment of its hardware portfolio.

This strategy follows a trend of creating “Ultra” tiers to capture higher price points. The addition of cameras to the AirPods would mark the first time Apple has placed visual sensors in its ear-worn devices, potentially linking them to the company’s augmented reality efforts.

The convergence of a milestone anniversary and a new hardware tier suggests Apple intends to reset the product cycle in 2027 to drive a new wave of upgrades across its ecosystem.