The photo is from Chris Welch of The Verge.
According to a note to investors seen by AppleInsider and 9to5Mac, the second-generation AirPods Pro may support Apple Lossless Audio Codec, and could even come with a case that makes a sound to help you find it.
There isn't an AirPods model that supports lossless audio, a form of file compression that preserves all of the data in the original audio file, resulting in higher quality sound. Each AirPods model uses a form of audio compression called Advanced Audio Codec, which limits the devices to using. The only other Apple devices that can use lossless audio on Apple Music are the iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. The main downside to lossless audio is that it takes up more storage space on your device, and streaming it online can quickly eat up mobile data.
There are a number of tricks we can play to maximize or get around some of the limits of the device.
Apple will have to either ditch or jump over some of the technology's hurdles if the AirPods Pro 2 does support ALAC. Gary Geaves, the vice president of acoustics at Apple, was interviewed by What Hi-fi. During the interview, Geaves said that the company will need to work hard to get the most out of the technology, and that there are a number of tricks they can play to maximize or get around some of the limits of the technology.
If you separated your charging case from your AirPods, it may be possible to find it with the Find My app. According to 9to5Mac and AppleInsider, there is a chance that the AirPods Pro 2 could have a redesign and focus on fitness. The first AirPods Pro may be released three years after the fourth quarter of 2022, according to a report by Apple analyst Ronald Kuo.
