Apple’s health tracking AirPods 2 could land at the end of March
The wait for the next AirPods may be coming to an end. An unconfirmed rumour suggests that Apple could launch the buds at the end of this month, on 29 March.
The news comes from Spanish blog Applesfera. They’ve apparently seen an internal Apple memo that cites that date. If this ends up to be the accurate, the buds could be unveiled at an event the company is rumoured to be planning for 25 March.
We do know that AirPods 2 are in the works. In November, Apple obtained Bluetooth certification for the product from the Bluetooth Special Interests Group. Prior to this the tech giant filed a couple of patents for the buds to take on fitness tracking capabilities, a move that would represent a shift from a simple audio player.
A report from DigiTimes reiterates the rumors that AirBuds 2 will come with fitness tracking features baked in. Unfortunately there is no info on what exactly the health monitoring features will be. Heart rate, physical activity, stress? Anything is possible. It is a little known fact that earbuds, rather than watches, tend to be the most accurate heart-rate monitors, outperformed only by traditional chest straps.
“In terms of wireless headsets, Apple is set to release AirPods 2 sometime in the first half of 2019, and the new wireless earbuds with discrete designs to carry health monitoring functions are expected to receive enthusiastic market responses.” said DigiTimes.
There is also room for improvement when it comes to design and audio. A Bloomberg report last June claimed the buds will include water resistance to protect against splashes and rain. Other rumours point to better ambient sound handling. An upgraded wireless charging case and better Siri integration could also be on the cards.
But this is still all speculation. The Cupertino outfit has not revealed a release date, or even confirmed that it is working on the next generation product. Still, rumours are filtering through from multiple sources. The AirPods upgrade would be the first revision of the product since its launch in two years ago.
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