AirPods Pro 2 coming, here are all the news of the new headphones. The AirPods marked a sea change in the world of completely wireless earbuds. Apple’s iconic music accessories weren’t the first True Wireless earphones but certainly they were the ones that, starting from 2015, have contributed to popularizing this peculiar version that features two elements separate from each other, completely devoid of (such as says the name) of threads.
iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13: main differences and similarities
In 2019, Apple once again helped to change the course of the market by introducing the Airpods Pro which stood out from previous models for the design and above all for the presence of a noise reduction system. Here too it was not a question of real novelties but dimensions, technology, transparency of functions for the user, represented a point of reference for the entire market.
Now three years after the launch of the first Airpods Pro, after announcing the Airpods 3, Apple is about to introduce the Airpods Pro 2.
Given the popularity and widespread use of True Wireless earphones and above all of the Airpods, there is great anticipation around the new version. We have been talking about it for months and many rumors have been circulating for months. In this article we try to take stock of a launch that shouldn’t be too far away by now, as we will explain at the bottom.
It must be said right away that among the many rumors that have marked the last few weeks there has been a “mega Leak” that seems to have revealed innovative functions. Some of them seem to have been subsequently denied, but the structure and basic functions of the Airpods Pro 2 are known thanks to this leak that also presented a series of images from which technologies and differences can be deduced from the Airpods. Pro.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 design
Initially, two different models of Airpods Pro 2 were mentioned. The hypothesis is someone who has proven reliable in the past about future Apple products; In one of his tweets about him, we found images of a component allegedly meant to be used in the second generation of AirPods Pro.
These are cables of two different sizes, an element that, according to the leaker, suggests that the future earphones will be offered in two different sizes.
In fact, at the moment the idea that Apple could present two different iPods Pro 2 with a different design seems quite remote. Since the launch of the photo you see above, there have been no other rumors pointing in the same direction.
Speaking of design: a lot of work has been done here too, often imaginative, assuming radical changes. According to some information, it has been assumed, for example, that Apple has explored the possibility of completely eliminating the auctions that characterize the AirPods since their debut. In this way, the Apple earphones could approach in the form factor to “button” competitors, launched during the last few months. Let’s talk about Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live, for example, but the latest Beats earphones such as the Beats Studio Buds and Beats Fit Pro belong to this type. Rumors in this direction have been amplified by Bloomberg that AirPods Pro 2 could get a radically different design, without stems.
But this detail seems unconfirmed and every single piece and rendering that has been seen around features the case and earphones in the same shapes and sizes.
In the end, Apple may have decided not to change the style of the Airpods Pro 2 perhaps also for technical reasons since the stem contains controls and microphones.
AirPods Pro 2 the news
Although the Airpods Pro 2 will eventually be almost identical stylistically to the Airpods Pro, important functional innovations should not be missing. Some of those that appeared in the “mega leak” mentioned above seem very likely, others less so.
New H2 processor
The Airpods Pro 2 could be the first Apple earphones to feature a new processor. It would be the H2, direct successor to H1 that drives many earphones produced by Apple (among others, all the latest Beats earphones, as well as the Airpods Pro and Airpods 3).
The H2 processor is explicitly mentioned by analyst Ming Chi Kuo in an old report released to his customers. Kuo did not explicitly say what the processor will do but since H1 manages practically everything of the Airpods: audio playback, noise suppression, sensors, battery, a new version would do the same things by supporting new functions.
Heart rate sensor
One of the most interesting rumors focuses attention on the possibility that the earphones open up to fitness functions. This means that they would feature new sensors and exercise tracking capabilities. In this perspective, they would be placed in the groove traced by Apple Watch.
Among the items we point out that on a sensor to detect heart rate. This way the Airpods 2 Pro could support an iPhone to track exercises, workouts and even calorie consumption.
The prospect of such a system is supported by some moves by Apple in the software space. For example, remember that with iOS 16 the Training application also works without Apple Watch. The Airpods 2 Pro could at that point be the heart sensor that takes the place of the Apple Watch.
The sensor for measuring heart rate would also be able to measure body temperature but the possibility of the Airpods Pro 2 to “measure fever” (in reality it would be an alert when a certain temperature threshold is exceeded) is considered unlikely also of those who believe that the new model of Airpods can work as a heart rate sensor.
Movement analysis
Recall that officially, Apple executive Kevin Lynch had previously hinted at additional fitness tracking features for AirPods. The idea is to take advantage of two sets of sensors, such as the iPhone and Apple Watch, and to combine the data with those coming from the Airpods for more accurate tracking.
Here too, however, there are concrete and well-founded doubts that this is more of a hypothesis rather than a real indiscretion.
Integrated live listening
The rumor that the Live Listening integrated in the case would also arrive in the Airpods Pro 2 is much more likely.
We described this function to you some time ago, when it was introduced with iOs 12. In practice, it is a system for using the AirPods as ambient sound amplifiers, using the iPhone microphone. To date, it allows you to use an iPhone as a microphone that transmits sound to the Airpods. Put the phone near a TV, a radio or any speaker or maybe even in front of one of our interlocutors, it is possible to hear the amplified sound in the Airpods.
With the Airpods Pro 2 Live Sound would work even without an iPhone. It would be the case of the Airpods to collect the audio thanks to a microphone integrated into the Magsafe case.
It should also be noted that at WWDC 2021, Apple had already mentioned a function to take advantage of the Airpods to help people with mild hearing loss. The so-called “conversation Boost” had even appeared a beta firmware of the Airpods, but it was not actually introduced.
Easier to use Where is it
On the case of the Airpods 2 Pro as well as a microphone for Live Listening, there would also be a speaker. In this case the function would be to improve the integration with Where is it.
Today, earphones can in fact be found playing a sound only when they are out of the case. It is not possible to make the earphones ring when they are inside or to find the case. The speaker would change this scenario by reproducing a sound even if there are no earphones inside it.
Also here in the renderings you can see three holes that could be the sound output of the small internal speaker.
Adaptive noise suppression
AirPods Pro 2 is also expected to go a step further with adaptive noise cancellation technology. This technology is a kind of automatic transparency that deactivates and adjusts as the noise grows and is also present in other competing products.
If you choose the automatic function, the adaptive noise suppression “listens” to the environment and modifies the level of cancellation of the surrounding sound so as to give us the possibility of hearing what is happening around us if there is not too much noise but also of give us silence when there is an intrusive noise instead.
Lossless sound
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new Airpods Pro could have the Lossless sound reproduction function.
The current line of AirPods – including the third generation of AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max – does not offer support for Lossless audio, possibly due to limitations that prevent playback of the ALAC codec via Bluetooth. This is while Apple offers Lossless audio with Apple Music, and has developed its own implementation of AAC (Advanced Audio Codec).
However, the transmission of Lossless audio would mean a very complex process since nBluetooth is limited to the AAC codec. In practice, Apple should study an alternative wireless connection system.
Bluetooth 5.2 and Bluetooth LE
The Airpods Pro 2 would also support Bluetooth 5.2 and Bluetooth LE, a technology announced in early 2020 for which the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) – the association that deals with this standard – had initially expected the release of the specifications before the end of that year.
The most interesting feature of Bluetooth LE is support for the new LC3 codec, which is designed to transmit audio much more efficiently. This means higher audio quality at the same bit rate than the SBC codec at half the bit rate. A lower bit rate means lower power consumption, which translates into longer battery life.
But the advantages would be manifold. Thanks to the new version of Bluetooth, the Airpods Pro 2 therefore
- Increase the sound quality
- Improve autonomy
- Connect to multiple devices at the same time
- Connect one headset to one device and the second to another device
- Accept the connection of a second device to the same source. In practice, you could connect multiple Airpods to an iPhone or a Mac
- From what has been learned from the database of the group that implements the Bluetooth standard, Apple is testing components compatible with Bluetooth 5.3. While there is no information about the product they are intended for, it is clear that the Airpods Pro 2 are the prime suspects.
USB-C charging
Some analysts think the Airpods Pro 2 will still have Lightning charging. Among them there is also the respected analyst Ming Chi Kuo but if you want to listen to the designs of the cases you would say that it will not be the case: in a photo you can clearly see the USB-C port
The presence of the USB-C port would not be surprising. Indeed, the persistence of the Lightning port could be more so. All the latest Apple and Beats earphones have a USB-C port; among them the Airpods 3 also stand out.
There would be the problem, admittedly, of non-compatibility with the many iPhone cables out there, but in the end this would be minimal damage and certainly pay off for the many benefits of a USB-C port, including more efficient and faster charging.
More rumors about the Airpods Pro 2
There are many other functions that are hoped for or that have been foreseen but which are unlikely to appear in the next version of the Airpods Pro 2
According to some, for example, they could offer bone conduction technology, support for third-party apps and compatibility with the Apple AirTag, to make it easier to find lost AirPods. Apple patent application detailing how future AirPods could identify you by the shape of their ear canal. Still, Kuo reported that the second-generation AirPods Pro will feature new strengths that he believes should drive demand, including support for the Apple Lossless (ALAC) audio format and case that can activate a audible alarm allowing the user to locate their position.
Apple could introduce improvements to the adaptive EQ, to optimize musical listening according to the hearing of each user, also differentiated for each ear.
Also not to be forgotten is Apple’s recent acquisition of Primephonic, which should also offer a more immersive listening experience for classical music fans: AirPods Pro 2 may have better drivers to provide a particularly optimized listening experience for this. musical genre.
As for the drivers, assuming the AirPods Pro 2 cannot come close to the size of the AirPods Max (40 mm), Apple could provide the new model with an improved component. It is also possible to hypothesize the use of the H1 chip to improve audio latency, better manage the battery and connectivity, providing “Hey Siri” hands-free support and the Audio Share function to listen to music on two sets of AirPods or Beats headphones. from a single source.
Exit date
The mass production of the AirPods Pro 2 began in the second half of this 2022. Initially it was thought that the release of the earphones was expected by the end of the year perhaps for Christmas, in reality it was learned in the first days of September that the Airpods Pro 2 will be presented during the Far Out event, when Apple will also present the iPhones and the Apple Watch 8. The source is the journalist specializing in Apple things, Mark Gurmann and must therefore be considered as very reliable.