Apple could announce second-generation AirPods at a special media event which should take place in March, but the new earbuds may not go on sale until later in the year or the fall.
AirPods 2 are reportedly coming this spring with such perks as a much-requested black model, deeper bass, a specialized coating at the top of each earbud that could provide better grip, additional health sensors and other improvements, all in exchange for $199.
A setup card in the iOS 12.2 beta confirms Apple's working on a new AirPods version with a built-in Hey Siri that could launch around iOS 12.2's release in a matter of few weeks.
Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes ran a report this morning which alleged that an AirPods revision with built-in health sensors could be on its way in the first half of this year.
Apple is on track to release its second-generation wireless earbuds with support for the Qi charging standard in the first half of next year, while an upgraded pair of AirPods rocking an all-new design and other perks is slated for release some time in 2020.
A second-generation AirPods will launch in the fourth quarter of 2019, Barclays claims, contradicting an earlier report from Bloomberg which predicted AirPods 2 with an improved Apple W2 wireless chip and built-in Hey Siri support would release this year.
Eleven months ago, Apple introduced an all-new inductive charging case for AirPods. That case, which is finally expected to be released in the coming weeks, is likely to work with any Qi-certified charging mat, according to the Chinese website, Chongdiantou.
It looks like Apple's audio team is going into overdrive. Three new audio products are expected to arrive early next year from the iPhone maker, including premium AirPods, a new HomePod, and "studio-quality" over-ear headphones, according to Bloomberg.
Revered Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has predicted that Apple may begin shipping its second-generation AirPods sometime in the second half of next year.