To provide a workpiece inspection method and an inspection apparatus capable of inspecting a large number of workpieces per unit of time, without having to reduce inspection quality.

In the workpiece inspection method, workpieces are carried by carrying arms (45) of a transfer wheel (44). The carrying arms (45) are arranged, in such a way as to change their relative positions so as to move the workpieces, in the region of an inspection camera (40) at a lower average speed than the average speed of the carrying arms (45) along the orbital route of the carrying arms (45).