Looks like Apple’s cooking up something new again! According to a fresh scoop from Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, future Apple Watch models could come equipped with a built-in camera. But wait—isn’t that exactly what we’ve already seen on children’s watches like the popular Chinese “Xiao Tian Cai” smartwatch?
Apple’s Visual Intelligence: A Whole New Way to See?
This rumored camera isn’t just about snapping selfies from your wrist. Instead, it’s meant to harness something Apple calls “Visual Intelligence,” a smart tech designed to analyze and interpret your surroundings in real time. Paired with next-gen AirPods, these devices will form an advanced AI wearable ecosystem, enabling your gadgets to literally “see” the outside world.
But hold on—some internet jokers were quick to point out this sounds suspiciously like Apple is turning the Apple Watch into a grown-up version of the “Xiao Tian Cai” kids’ watch, a beloved wearable in China known for its camera and call features. 
Haven’t We Seen This Idea Before?
Does the phrase “AI wearable” sound a tad familiar? You’re right—just think back to the “Ai Pin” released by the tech startup Humane back in November two years ago. Ai Pin, priced at $699, was touted as a revolutionary “smartphone killer”—essentially a screenless phone you wear pinned to your shirt. It could handle calls, photos, messages, and voice queries without an actual smartphone.
Ai Pin grabbed headlines with unique features, including a hand-projected display and intuitive voice-touch controls. But before it even launched, it stumbled embarrassingly when it got questions wrong twice during its promo video. Oops!
Worse yet, after hitting the market, Ai Pin bombed spectacularly. Users reported frustratingly slow performance, broken music playback features, a projector that was useless in bright sunlight, and overheating problems. Plus, users had to shell out an extra $24 monthly subscription fee to keep it functioning—otherwise, it turned into a sleek piece of metal junk.
And if all that wasn’t enough, it even faced fire-risk issues because of faulty battery quality. No wonder people quickly branded it a “beautiful piece of AI garbage.”
Apple’s Two Possible Camera Designs for Apple Watch
Currently, Apple reportedly has two different camera integration plans in mind:
- Standard Apple Watch: A front-facing camera embedded within the watch screen, mimicking the “Dynamic Island” design from the iPhone.
- Apple Watch Ultra: A camera on the side of the watch, near the Digital Crown and buttons, potentially for taking photos or environmental recognition.
Wait, Can I Finally Do Video Calls on Apple Watch?
With a camera coming to Apple Watch, you might be excitedly thinking, “FaceTime or WeChat video calls from my wrist? Sign me up!”
Sorry to burst your bubble—Gurman says no. Despite adding a camera, the Apple Watch still won’t support video calls due to battery limitations, overheating issues, and screen-size constraints. Seems like battery life remains Apple Watch’s Achilles’ heel, as always. As one online commenter joked, “Great! Now a watch that could barely last till evening might die out by lunchtime!”
What users really want isn’t a camera—it’s better battery life. After all, who enjoys lugging around an extra charger just to keep their watch alive through the day?
Will Apple Watch Avoid the Ai Pin Disaster?
So, what’s an Apple Watch with a camera really going to look like? Can Apple dodge the pitfalls that doomed Ai Pin?
We’ll just have to wait and see if Apple’s latest gamble pays off—or if we’ll be left with yet another fancy, but ultimately impractical, gadget.
Stay tuned!
