A discovery on Apple's supply chain suggests an upcoming AirPods release that will reportedly arrive by 2026, centering on new and improved features for Cupertino's wireless Bluetooth headset. In the latest report from renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, it was discovered that AirPods would soon bring massive improvements to its spatial audio features.
The present Spatial Audio experience on the AirPods already offers a significant experience for users, but this enhancement will provide a better upgrade.
Apple AirPods: New Spatial Audio Feature
The latest blog post by Ming-Chi Kuo via Medium details his latest survey on Apple's supply chain, finding out that Cupertino is looking to mass-produce new AirPods that will arrive by 2026. The upgrades introduced here would be an improved version of its Spatial Audio, which would be made possible with a new hardware called an IR camera.
The said IR camera is similar to the iPhone's Face ID receiver, a hardware that helps in the device's security and authentication for various experiences.
It was revealed that Foxconn will be its supplier for this component and can deliver 18 to 20 million units to Apple, which will then be used for 10 million pairs of the AirPods.
Apple's Next AirPods Release
Despite the projected 10 million new AirPods, Kuo revealed that Apple's supply would depend on the market conditions for its demand and orders.
Through the IR camera, Spatial Audio would be improved as it can detect 'environmental image changes,' said Kuo, with 'in-air gesture control' to allow more interactions, with Apple already applying for patents. That being said, the new AirPods are still expected in around two years from now.
Apple AirPods and What it Offers
The latest from Apple's AirPods lineup is old, with the AirPods 3rd generation, known for releasing in 2021, offering the latest update from Cupertino, and the AirPods Pro 2, an upgrade to its renowned in-ear variant. However, Apple released massive changes to the lineup from last year, with the AirPods 3rd Generation seeing a USB-C charging case.
The same thing was introduced when the iPhone 15 series was released, as Apple introduced the AirPods Pro 2's USB-C charging case change, which was released alongside the latest smartphone lineup. However, not much of a major change was delivered to the AirPods lineup since its original releases, and the USB-C case only featured Type-C charging.
There have been slow updates to the AirPods, with the AirPods Max still in its first generation, released in 2020, and the other two already seen years since its initial debut in the market. Kuo's latest report suggests a massive shift for the AirPods lineup, which will offer the IR camera soon, as well as hardware that will improve spatial audio and adapt to one's activities and experiences.
