AirPods are really bitter, when it was first released, it was said that it was an IQ tax, and a wireless earphone cost more than 1K? But after 1-2 years of market testing, it was found that AirPods is really easy to use, not only fast connection, fast response, but also one of the earphones with the lowest latency on the market.
There are also AirPods, which have only undergone two iterations since they came out in 2016. And it's been two and a half years since the last update. The good news is that the fourth-generation AirPods are expected to be unveiled in the second half of this year, which will bring some upgrades and improvements.
According to Bloomberg, the new AirPods will be available in two versions, codenamed B768 (E) and B768 (M). Among them, E stands for "entry-level" and M for "mid-range", and although both versions will have a new design and an improved fit, the high-end version of the AirPods4, with support for Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and the charging case will be equipped with speakers that can play sound for easy finding. For comparison, the current AirPods 1/2/3 generations do not support these two features.
In terms of appearance, the AirPods 4 will be between the current AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2, and will have a shorter ear stem design, which will further improve the fit with the ear. It's just unclear whether the high-end version with active noise cancellation will come with earbuds.
AirPods 4 earbuds will have a new design that looks like a combination of the current AirPods and AirPods Pro, with a shortened stem and a more compact form factor for improved wearing comfort.
In addition, AirPods 4 will be able to use touch volume controls just like AirPods Pro by placing your finger on the stand of your AirPods 4 and swiping up or down.
Chip upgrade: H2 chip, make the sound quality and noise reduction to the next level
One of the key aspects that the next generation of AirPods could bring from the second generation AirPods Pro is the H2 chip. Both the second- and third-generation AirPods are currently equipped with the H1 chip, which also offers improved personalized spatial audio, faster pairing and device switching, and long-lasting battery information thanks to the H2 chip.
Bluetooth 5.3 technology has become quite popular in Apple products, and AirPods 4 will naturally not lag behind. This means a faster, more stable connection, and lower power consumption.
| products | Battery life |
| AirPods Pro 2 | 6.5 hours |
| AirPods 4 | 6 hours |
AirPods 4 with H2 chip are expected to have an increased battery life from 5 hours to about 6 hours, making your music journey even longer.
Hearing aid function: health monitoring, better understanding of your ears
Another "advanced" feature streamed by AirPods Pro 2 uses the U1 chip to track the location of AirPods, which is equivalent to a built-in AirTag.
Users can see their location at any time by opening the Find My app on their iPhone, and the speaker on the case can also emit sound to better locate them.
In addition, Apple is likely to replace the new AirPods Max with a new connector, switching from Lightning to a more compatible USB-C.
According to Bloomberg, in the iOS 18 system update to be released later this year, Apple will add hearing aid features to the AirPodsPro, enabling AirPods to serve as an over-the-counter (OTC) hearing alternative to traditional hearing aids. And the unreleased AirPods4 are also expected to support the "hearing aids" feature.
It is widely believed that the price of this entry-level AirPods will be around 99 US dollars (about 720 yuan), taking into account factors such as tariffs, the price of the Chinese version of this product may be 799 yuan, which is a gap with other AirPods products, and if all goes well, "AirPods Lite" may be released this fall with the new AirPods Max and AirPods 4, providing users with a more cost-effective choice.
Vocabulary Analysis:
- ANC (Active Noise Cancellation): Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology that reduces background noise by emitting sound waves that cancel out external noise.
- H2 chip: The next generation of wireless headphone chips designed by Apple to provide a better audio experience and noise cancellation.
- Bluetooth 5.3: The latest Bluetooth technology standard that provides faster transmission speeds and lower power consumption.
- U1 chip: Apple-designed ultra-wideband (UWB) chip for precise positioning.
- AirTag: A tracker designed by Apple to help users find lost items.
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