AirPods were, upon their release back in 2016, a bit of a laughing stock as a result of their strange looks. Two years ago, people compared Apple's smart earbuds to earrings, but their success since then has been no laughing matter. Indeed, in the run-up to Christmas 2017, the AirPods had sold out literally everywhere, disappearing from the Apple Store, John Lewis, Argos, and pretty much every other shop that stocked them.
So, the big question is, when will we finally get our hands on AirPods 2? The latest news to hit the scene comes all the way from Korea, in the form of a report from respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In the document (via MacRumors), produced on 17 February, Kuo states that a new version of AirPods with wireless charging support and upgraded Bluetooth connectivity will start shipping in the first half of 2019.
The wireless charging theory goes hand-in-hand with another section of the report that states Apple's long-awaited AirPower is finally on the way, so could we see a big double release? Kuo has long had a reputation for correctly predicting Apple's release schedule as a result of his contacts within the tech giant's Asian supply chain, so we'd be tempted to put money on this being true.
Indeed, one Spanish tech blogger has gone a step further, predicting that we'll see the next-gen earbuds before March is out.
Applesfera recently reported that AirPods 2 will be unveiled at an Apple special event on 25 March, with an official release coming just four days later. The report claims that the insider info has arrived from sources within Apple's Asian supply chain, which state that 28 March is "the last day of the life cycle of the original AirPods".
But what can we expect from AirPods 2? Read on to find out everything we know so far
AirPods 2 release date: When will you be able to buy them?
Unfortunately, Apple’s usually predictable annual release pattern doesn't apply to the AirPods. Being a first-generation product, we can’t use previous releases to predict a release date for the buds like we can with the iPhone, the iPad, and the Apple Watch. But what we can do is analyze rumors and speculation, most of which currently suggest a 2019 release. This would mean a three-year gap between generations of AirPods.
One rumor to recently hit the scene, somewhat, unfortunately, is that it could be a late-2019 release rather than an early one. Renowned leaker OnLeaks' most recent tweet claims that "an unconfirmed but reliable source" has told him "AirPods + new color(s) [will] likely [be] unveiled this Fall" – that's autumn to you and me.
Apple's EarBuds have always been produced in trademark pure white, so having a choice of colors could certainly prove to be an interesting development. However, those who have been waiting on the AirPods' successor since the release of the originals will be disheartened to hear that there's still a long way to go.
Analyst Barclays (via 9to5Mac) suggested long ago that the next-gen AirPods would be released in 2019 rather than 2018, contrary to many former rumors. The report claims they will come with noise-canceling features that use physical analog methods instead of active noise cancellation.
Apple’s announcement of a second-generation AirPods charging case also suggests we might see AirPods 2 some time soon.
Such a product would allow the AirPods case to be charged via the upcoming AirPowerwireless charging case, which is set for release this year. The device was originally unveiled at the iPhone event way back in September 2017, when Tim Cook explained that it would be released at an unspecified date at some point in the near future. This leads us to think that the AirPods 2 will only be released in the wake of AirPower so that Apple can link the second-gen charging case with the second-gen earbuds.
This theory is supported by a report from Apple Toolbox, who claims that the AirPods 2 have caused the AirPower case to be delayed. In the report, the site says that instead of releasing the new charging case on its own, Apple will be holding the case and the AirPower mat back until AirPods 2 launch this year.
Many believed Apple would follow the same timing as its 2016 release and announce AirPods 2 at their keynote on 12 September 2018, with a subsequent release date. This proved to be unfounded, however, as Apple instead announced a range of new iPhones and a brand new Apple Watch.
AirPods 2 design: What will they look like?
Apple’s EarPods have stayed the same classic white for many a year, and the AirPods continued this trend. We sincerely doubt that Apple will switch from its trademark colors with the AirPods 2, but we can certainly dream. The iPhone and the Apple Watch come in a variety of colors, so why not extend these to the AirPods 2?
However, we already know that the new charging case looks largely the same, coming in white only. This means it's highly unlikely that we'll see a wider range of colors for the AirPods 2.
A new image from the iOS 12 beta does show one change to the AirPower charging case, though – an external LED. This would be useful as it gives users an indication as to when the case is fully charged.
Besides that, we hope Apple will improve on the fit of the AirPods, and maybe include some rubber tips that will make them feel more secure in the ears. The design isn't likely to change much – they’ll probably still have that receiver dangling from your ear canal.
Early October saw some news courtesy of serial Apple leaker Ben Geskin, purportedly revealing the AirPods 2. Eagle-eyed followers spotted a discrepancy in the images, though – the model number on the box was the same as the first-gen AirPods. Geskin has since acknowledged that the images are probably fake, so we'll keep waiting for leaks of the real thing as they're sure to come at some point.
AirPods 2 features: What will they do?
Apart from a Bloomberg report, which suggests that the second-gen AirPods will have an upgraded wireless chip and will allow the wearer to summon Siri just by saying 'Hey Siri', other details have been pretty scant. We don't expect the AirPods 2 to introduce many more features than the ones already stated above, but patents are always good indicators of whether the company does have something special up its sleeve or not.
A recent forecast from market research group CCS Insight predicts that Apple will push into the 'smart hearable' market, saying that "it's only a matter of time before Apple adds more functions to its AirPods. If this happens, Apple could kick-start this device category like it shook up the smartwatch market with the Apple Watch."
Here are the features that Apple might be putting into the AirPods 2.
1. Faster charging time
XDA writer and TV host Max Weinbach have suggested in a tweet that AirPods 2 will charge from empty to full juice in just 15 minutes.
This would be a huge improvement on the current AirPods' charging time of just over an hour, but would require alterations to the design of the AirPods' case. Most significantly, as Weinbach states, it would mean the case is likely to be bigger and heavier in order to house the required Qi coils.
It could only be a marginal gain, though. We'll have to wait and see whether the faster charging time will negatively impact the AirPods 2 experience.
2. Biometric sensors
Apple is a big fan of biometric sensors. They've implemented health and security features such as a heart-rate monitor, Touch ID and Face ID into the Apple Watch 4 and the new iPhone, so this rumor really doesn’t come out of the left field.
In July 2017, Apple was granted its third patent regarding biometric sensors in the AirPods. This details a biometric sensor within the AirPods that can take measurements when pressed up against your ear. The sensor will allow users to measure their own internal temperature.
3. Automated audio passthrough
A separate patent passed in July 2017 details an acoustic pass valve – a flap that can be opened to let the sound from the environment into your ears. This would allow the AirPods to cancel outside noise when listening to music, but let it pass through when it detects that you’re running, for example.
This is more efficient than existing methods of active noise cancellation, which typically involve mixing in ambient sound from external microphones. A Bloomberg report from earlier this summer quoted inside sources claiming that Apple is working on noise cancellation tech.
4. An updated AirPods speaker-hybrid charging case
Another speaker-hybrid patent has surfaced, this time for the AirPods charging case. According to the patent, the updated AirPods charging case could double up as a speaker, as well as being a home for your AirPods.
"The case is further configured to receive media [...] by the wireless earbuds and transmit the media to a non-wireless output device connected to the case," the patent reads. "The case may further include its own wireless radio that can wirelessly communicate audio to the wireless earbuds when the earbuds are not in the case."
The patent also suggests that the charging case could be a speaker in its own right and could connect via Bluetooth to other Apple devices. Whether this feature will be included in the updated AirPods charging case, we'll just have to see, but if it does, we could find out at WWDC 2018 when (hopefully) the AirPods 2 is announced.
AirPods 2 wishlist: What we want to see
While the above are based on patent filings, they don’t contain the things we really want from the next generation of AirPods. Here’s our wishlist.
1. Tap or button control without Siri
You used to only be able to control your AirPods by tapping on the side of the AirPods and talking to Siri. Thanks to iOS 11, however, there are new customizable controls. You can now customize what a tap on each side of the AirPod does. This includes skipping or going back to the previous track and playing or pausing a track. That said, it's still not fully customizable. It's not possible to rewind or fast-forward, or even increase the volume without asking Siri to do it for you or taking out your phone.
Trust us when we say that this can be a little embarrassing, especially when you’re on a packed train. We’d like to see Apple introduce actual buttons or a wider variety of tap controls to the side of the AirPods, removing the need to vocalize a request for an increase in volume.
2. Multipoint connectivity
While the AirPods are described as smart earbuds, they’re not so smart if they can’t connect to multiple devices at the same time. Multipoint-connected headphones can detect which device you’re listening to and switch between devices without any user intervention.
While the first-gen AirPods can connect to both your Mac and your iPhone, they can’t switch seamlessly, and you have to manually tell the AirPods to switch devices. We’d also like them to be more Android- and Microsoft-friendly, for example, better and simpler pairing integration with Android devices.