According to a report from 52Audio, the next-gen AirPods Pro could come with a number of new features, including heart rate detection, the ability to function as a hearing aid, and ausb-c port.
Some renders on what the earbuds might look like were provided by the site after receiving new information on the AirPods Pro 2. There is a stem in the design of the AirPods Pro 2, in contrast to some rumors about a stemless look.
52Audio claims that there will be a lot of new features in the AirPods Pro 2. The report gives more detail on some of the rumors we've heard before.
- Updated H1 chip - The updated H1 chip is expected to feature an upgraded SiP packaging system and self-adaptive noise cancellation capabilities. It will include better performance and improved power consumption as well.
- Find My - The AirPods Pro 2 are expected to support Find My functionality, allowing them to be located with the Find My app. Prior rumors have indicated that there will be a speaker on the case, allowing them to play a sound when misplaced.
- Heart Rate detection - We've heard prior rumors of health sensors coming to the AirPods Pro, and 52Audio claims they will be able to detect heart rate from within the ear.
- Temperature detection - The heart rate sensor may also support temperature detection, but 52Audio says this could not be confirmed.
- Sound improvements - The AirPods Pro 2 will apparently share acoustics with the AirPods 3, featuring a "combination of customized high-amplitude drive units and high-dynamic-range amplifiers." Self-adaptive equalization, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and audio sharing will be included.
- USB-C - Instead of Lightning, the AirPods Pro 2 could adopt a USB-C port.
- Hearing Aid capabilities - 52Audio claims that the AirPods Pro 2 will serve as a hearing aid. Sound can apparently "be collected through the charging case and transmitted to the earphone for sound enhancement and playback," with the aim of helping people with hearing loss better hear sound in the environment. The site believes that what was previously described as a lanyard holder on the side of the AirPods Pro 2 is actually some kind of hearing aid function, which sounds questionable.
The hearing aid function is new and has been rumored before. There are rumors about the design of the AirPods Pro 2, but the information we have is that there is a stem.
52Audio has given accurate information about Apple's upcoming audio products in the past, but the site has also shared some questionable rumors, so it has something of a mixed track record. We've heard hints of some of these features, but others, such as the hearing aid function, are more implausible. This information should be seen skeptically.
