On Tuesday, Apple and Beats revealed the eagerly awaited Powerbeats Pro 2 wireless earbuds. Interestingly, the upgraded version of Powerbeats Pro boasts features that are absent in Apple’s AirPods. Fortunately, we have some insights into Apple’s future plans for AirPods.
Latest rumors regarding future AirPods
A significant highlight of the new Powerbeats Pro 2 is its integrated heart rate sensor. This marks Apple’s first accessory outside of the Apple Watch to include a health-centric sensor, suggesting the possibility of more health-related technologies being introduced in devices going forward. While it’s no surprise that Powerbeats Pro are designed for workouts, it’s intriguing to see Apple debut this tech in a Beats product.
What can we expect for AirPods? Is a heart rate sensor also on the horizon? Although we don’t need speculation to predict this, various sources confirm that Apple is indeed developing AirPods with health monitoring features.
The most obvious addition would be the heart rate sensor found in the new Powerbeats Pro 2. More specifically, Apple intends to incorporate this sensor into the upcoming generation of AirPods Pro. While we’re unclear about the exact release date for AirPods Pro 3, considering that the AirPods Pro 2 launched in 2022, the wait might not be too long—potentially later this year.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman noted last year that Apple is also looking into sensors capable of measuring body temperature through the ear canal. Additionally, the company is exploring camera sensors for AirPods, although these innovations are unlikely to be ready for AirPods Pro 3.
What else might be in store? For AirPods Pro 3, a redesigned appearance is anticipated, though details about its design remain limited. The standard AirPods model was recently refreshed with a new design and active noise cancellation, making it less likely for a new version to be launched soon. Apple also has no “significant” plans for the AirPods Max after last year’s update with USB-C.
What are your thoughts? What do you hope to see in future AirPods models? Share your opinions in the comments section below.
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