AirPods Pro 2: Everything you need to know
AirPods Pro are Apple’s answer to high-end true wireless headphones, offering improved fit, active noise cancellation, Dolby Atmos audio support and more – but even capable headphones like the AirPods Pro can get longer than a tooth, and fans have set their sights on AirPods Pro 2 next generation.
Despite the controversy over the proposed changes, the new AirPods Pro could feature an improved design, as well as improved ANC capabilities and even fitness tracking, and are rumored to be unveiled this week. Here’s everything you need to know.
When will the AirPods Pro 2 be released?
Lickers have long pointed to 2022 as the year we’ll see the AirPods Pro 2, but when in 2022 has been the subject of heated debate for a while.
Analysts, including Ming-chi Kuo, have long stated that mass production should start in 2H22with a potential release window for some time in the third or fourth quarter of 2022.
More recently, rumors have begun to circulate that Apple may be preparing to introduce professional-grade true wireless earbuds alongside the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 at its September event, due to take place on Wednesday, September 7th. We’ll walk you through how to watch the Apple Event separately if you want to follow it live.
The main source of the rumors is Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who in early September in his Power On! The newsletter claims that the buds should be opened this week. “Last year I reported that the new AirPods Pro would be coming in 2022, and now I’ve been told that their big reveal will be on Wednesday.”
That being said, it’s entirely possible that we’ll see the AirPods Pro 2 at Apple’s September event this week.
How much will AirPods Pro 2 cost?
The good news – if it can be called good considering the premium price of the earphones – is that Apple is supposedly aiming to keep the AirPods Pro 2 at the same £239/$249 price as the original Pro earbuds. This makes sense given how popular AirPods Pro are, even nearly two years after release, that still manage to attract an audience at a hefty price tag.
We’ve got a roundup of the best true wireless earbuds if you’re looking for something a little cheaper and, you know, available to buy right now.
Rumors about AirPods Pro 2
There are high expectations for Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 given the huge competition from high-end true wireless earbuds, and current leaks suggest that Apple may be working on an update.
Updated design
Apple’s updated AirPods 3 have a similar design to the first generation AirPods Pro, so it makes sense that Apple might be willing to change something in its Pro line to keep things different. A Bloomberg report from the end of 2020 shed light for the first time on possible design changes for future Pro headphones.
According to the post, Apple was aiming to make the AirPods Pro 2 even more compact, possibly by removing the stem that houses the beamforming microphones and other smart technologies. If Apple had continued with the redesign, the AirPods Pro 2 would have been shaped like the stemless Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro or second-generation Google Pixel Buds.
In fact, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the form factor could be similar to the (Apple-owned) Beats Studio Buds.
The challenge seems to be fitting all the necessary tech into an even smaller design, as Apple is reportedly struggling to integrate various antennas, microphones, and tech into the AirPod’s armless chassis.
And taking a first look at the redesigned AirPods Pro 2 via 52audio, it seems like Apple hasn’t been able to fully squeeze the tech into the barless design. The site not only features renderings of the purported second-generation AirPods Pro, but also plenty of technical details.
52audio
According to a report from 52audio, while the AirPods Pro 2 headphones may not look like much, they have what appear to be small changes that reflect the design of the AirPods 3, including what looks like the same skin detection sensor. , which is the last entry level. kidneys. There are also redesigned ear tips that are likely to improve fit and the effectiveness of active noise cancellation.
What could be more interesting than the design of the earbuds themselves is the charging case – and you never thought we’d say that, right?
Looking at 52audio’s renders, there are new openings and ports on the bottom and sides of the second generation AirPods Pro charging case. The design may not be as clean as we’re used to, but there are very good reasons to include them.
52audio
According to a 52audio leak, the ports to the right of the headphones feature a microphone to enhance the hearing aid function. The idea is that sound can be collected through the charging case and transferred to headphones for improved sound and playback, helping people with hearing loss stay connected during calls.
While you can find lost AirPods Pro headphones using the Find Me app, there’s no way to find a case using Find Me, but that looks set to change with the next generation of headphones. Holes on the bottom of the next-generation case are said to accommodate speakers, allowing it to play chimes and be easier to find.
52audio
The sharp-eyed among you will also notice a USB-C port instead of Lightning. With Apple switching the iPad line from Lightning to USB-C, it was only a matter of time before this change spread to other devices, and in our opinion, this is a welcome change.
This design was once again showcased in leaked CAD files shortly before Apple’s September event, boosting the credibility of the redesigned AirPods Pro case with improved Find My capabilities.
On the other hand, the leader of Twitter @LeaksApplePro suggests that there won’t be a major upgrade offered over the second generation earphones, arguing that there will only be a slight improvement in battery life and noise cancellation, and comparing it to a minimal upgrade between the first and second generation AirPods. so it’s far from confirmed right now.
New H1 chipset
The second-generation AirPods Pro are rumored to use Apple’s new H1 chipset, which 52audio claims will deliver both better performance and longer battery life, although no numbers have been provided.
The H1 chipset is said to bring adaptive active noise cancellation to wireless headphones, allowing the headphones to independently adjust the noise cancellation offered based on the noise in your environment and improve overall performance. This is not a new concept introduced in many high quality alternative earphones, but it is a first for Apple TWS earbuds.
The new chipset will also bring improved self-adaptive equalization, which will make songs sound better on the fly without user interaction, along with all of the AirPods smart features like auto-connection, dynamic head tracking and more, all present and taken into account.
Heart rate and temperature sensors
The new H1 chipset is said to work closely with the new sensors built into the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds. In addition to the skin detection sensor from third-generation AirPods, 52audio suggests the earbuds will feature a heart rate sensor. According to the leak, the sensor will “analyze data from the wearer’s inner ear to monitor heart rate” and possibly even measure the wearer’s temperature, although it’s unclear what its purpose is.
52audio
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously suggested that the second generation AirPods Pro could have motion sensors to enable fitness tracking features, and it’s likely that the heart rate monitor will play a role in that.
Ming-Chi Kuo also believes the earphones will offer fitness-tracking technology through dedicated sensors, though he suggests it won’t be as advanced as what’s offered by the Apple Watch.
AirPods Pro 2 Patents
The patents suggest that Apple may be working on a new optical transmission technology that could overcome Bluetooth’s bandwidth limitations. The illustrations in the patent show its use with an AR/VR headset rumored to be released in early 2023, but it will work well with the AirPods Pro 2, finally enabling true lossless audio transmission.
However, there are some drawbacks, mainly when it comes to range. While Bluetooth’s range is impressive, optical transmission technology requires the transmitter to be within line-of-sight of the receiver, meaning it won’t work with an iPhone in your pocket. The patent discusses the possibility of using Bluetooth as a backup, but this defeats the purpose of high-resolution sound reproduction.
We will update this article with more information as it becomes available, so check back often. Are you looking forward to the next generation of AirPods? Let us know about
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