A rumor about the release of the AirPods 2 has been making rounds on the internet that the wireless Bluetooth earbuds are hitting the store shelves in early 2019. Now, it's not just the next-gen earbuds that become the hottest topic in the digital world, but AirPods 3 is also making its own way, and a few more details about Apple's most in-demand product have been leaked recently.
Known analyst and Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo recently noted that the AirPods 2 will be launched in early 2019 although it is said that Apple will retain the design of the next-gen earbuds. The AirPods 3 will also follow in 2020, and the tech giant will reportedly make changes on its design with more powerful and advanced features.
Although the AirPods isn't for everyone as it can fall from someone's ears, the updated earbuds will be interchangeable or "universal" that can determine which ear the user should place it to, according to 9to5Mac. The AirPods 2 "can be worn interchangeably in either a left or a right ear of a user," and will also have built-in biometric sensors to keep track of the user's health info.
The next-gen AirPods will support Bluetooth 5.0 with an increased range from 200 ft to 800 ft in optimal conditions, and also doubles the bit-rate from 1 MB to 2 MB. It also reduces latency from 90 ms to 40 ms although it depends on the devices used; iPhone 8s and above work best.
AirPods 2 will also use W3 chipset and has a better functionality and support with Apple's infamous digital assistant, Siri. It will be water-resistant with a better battery life although the design would be the same as the first-gen AirPods.
On the other hand, the AirPods 3 is rumored to be introduced in 2020 with possible new design and colors such as white, black, dark grey, mint green, and red. It may also be made out of more lustreless material, with better sound production, improved water resistance, and better noise cancellation.
Apple might also include heart rate monitor functionality in the AirPods 3 as well as body temperature measurements although it might be included in the second-gen earbuds. Of course, consumers should expect the earbuds to be pricier, especially if they are designed by a more advanced technology.
AirPods remain the hottest Apple product since it first landed on the market in 2016. The tech giant never divulged its revenue, but Kuo estimated that there were 28 million units sold as of this year, and more units should be sold as soon as the next-gen earbuds come out in 2019.
