Today Apple finally released the long-awaited update to AirPods. The new AirPods are powered by the new H1 chip and feature 50 percent more talk time, hands-free “Hey Siri” and the option of a wireless charging case.
The new H1 chip replaces the W1 used in the 2016 AirPods and has been developed specifically for headphones. Whilst Apple has consistently revised the W-series chips since 2016 for use in Apple Watch, it is interesting to see a new H-series for these. We can only assume when Apple’s rumoured over-ear headphones debut later in 2019, they will build on this technology. I can also imagine future Beats products will feature the H-series chips too. H1 delivers performance efficiencies, faster connect times, more talk time and the convenience of hands-free “Hey Siri.” Apple says the H1 chip in the new AirPods makes switching between devices up to two times faster, and enables up to a 1.5x faster connection time for phone calls and up to 30 percent lower gaming latency.
The AirPods come with either a standard charging case for the same price of £159, or a new Wireless Charging Case for Qi charging at £199. The wireless case is also available for existing AirPods customers at £79. This new case is the same case originally shown off alongside AirPower in September 2017. Seeing as code enabling AirPower functionality has been found in the latest iOS 12.2 beta, that should be launching any day now too.
A custom laser engraving on the case is also available exclusively from Apple’s online store.
A pretty minor update to the world’s most popular wireless headphones, with no redesign, no black colour option or any kind of health monitoring features. If you’re like most of the world and bought your AirPods within the last 6-12 months, there’s nothing to cry over. If wireless charging is a must for you, just get the case. I got my AirPods on day one in December 2016, and the batteries are really showing their age now. I’ve ordered a pair of these 2nd-generation AirPods as it’s time for me to upgrade, and these new features are welcome additions. It remains to be seen when and where all the missing long-rumoured features will turn up; will there be ‘AirPods Pro’ later on in 2019 alongside Apple’s over-ear headphones? Or will ‘AirPods Pro’ actually turn out to be the over-ear headphones themselves?
According to Mark Gurman, these AirPods were initially planned to go on sale last year. Gurman says Apple is working on a subsequent pair of 3rd-generation AirPods with noise cancellation and water resistance that were originally planned for release later this year, but he now speculates that they could arrive in 2020.
For the last 3 days straight Apple has released new products via press releases, so it’s safe to assume we’ll see something tomorrow and something else on Friday. My money is on iPod touch tomorrow and AirPower on Friday. It’s worth noting that these new AirPods do require iOS 12.2 or newer, suggesting 12.2 will drop on Monday after the keynote, ahead of AirPods deliveries beginning on Tuesday here in the U.K. As I previously mentioned, iOS 12.2 does support AirPower, so again, we could finally see that this week too...
...I hope.
:))