Apple hasn't updated AirPods Pro since they were released in 2019. Aside from the addition of a Magsafe-compatible case in 2021, the wireless headphones remain largely unchanged, with non-launch prices of $249, £239, and A $399.According to some rumors, that is about to change. If the reports are true, the new AirPods Pro will launch next year with a new design and other upgrades.
The current AirPods Pro brings more high-end features, like active noise cancellation and customization to fit Apple's wireless headphones. Based on reports we've seen so far, the second-generation model will add further improvements, such as a sleeker stemless design and fitness features. The changes are crucial for Apple to remain competitive with rivals such as Samsung, Bose, and Sony.
AirPods were originally marketed as a companion to the iPhone 7, Apple's first smartphone without a headphone jack. But in the five years since their introduction, AirPods have become the most popular wireless headphones in the world. In addition to the aforementioned AirPods Pro, Apple's current AirPods line includes the $129 AirPods(second generation), the $179 AirPods(third generation), and the $549 earphone Earphone Max.
Here's a closer look at possible AirPods Pro 2.
AirPods Pro 2 will likely be released in the fourth quarter of 2022
Reports from Bloomberg, as well as reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, say AirPods Pro will be released in 2022. But it's not clear when we'll see them.
According to a research note obtained by MacRumors, Guo expects AirPods Pro 2 to ship in the fourth quarter of 2022. That means they could be part of apple's usual year-end product blitz. In September and October, for example, Apple announced the iPhone 13 Series, the Apple Watch Series 7, AirPods 3, and a new line of MacBook Pro laptops. Bloomberg, on the other hand, didn't specify a timeline for AirPods Pro 2 release before 2022.
The AirPods Pro 2 May lose its stem
It may be time to say goodbye to AirPods, which have been sporting shiny white stems since their release in 2016. According to Bloomberg, Apple's next AirPods Pro may have a more self-contained, stemless look, similar to the Beats Studio Buds. Apple is testing such designs, the report said, so it is unclear whether this will reflect the final product.
If true, it would mark apple's first major move away from truly wireless headphones since the launch of the first AirPods Pro in 2019. It would also make the AirPods Pro look more like other competing headphones from the likes of Samsung, Amazon, and Bose.
It also raises questions about how Apple will implement touch on the next generation of AirPods Pro models. Apple's Force Sensor is built into the current version of the chip to control media playback and access Siri. Without an earbud, Apple might have to put these touch controls in earbuds, like the Beats Studio Buds.
The AirPods Pro 2 May also get a new case, according to the Japanese blog Macotakara. This makes sense, considering that in this case, it has to be slightly different to match the bud's new design. The new case is the same size as the AirPods 3 and is waterproof (unlike Apple's other AirPods cases), according to the report.
They may have fitness tracking capabilities
AirPods can do a lot of things, but activity tracking isn't one of them. Apple may soon change that with AirPods Pro 2, which will feature updated motion tracking sensors for fitness tracking, according to Bloomberg.
The report doesn't go into more details, but a 2017 apple patent application suggests the company may be exploring ways to measure biological signals through earbuds.
Apple will join the likes of Jabra and Amazon, which already offer fitness features in their wireless headphones. Jabra's Elite Sports earplugs can track repeat counts during workouts and heart rate, while echo buds can track workouts.
