Next-Gen Apple AirPods Rumored With Advanced Health Monitoring Features
Apple's wireless AirPods have proved popular since being introduced a little over two years ago, though in that time they have not received a true refresh. That will eventually change, and perhaps soon. There has been plenty of talk about an AirPods 2 product being in the pipeline, and according to at least one report, Apple will release its second-gen AirPods sometime in the first half of this year.
Previously, it was rumored that Apple was going to integrate noise-cancelling technology into is second-gen AirPods, which would be a welcome upgrade. Perhaps even more useful (especially for joggers and outdoor types in general), it was said that refreshed AirPods would follow in the footsteps of the iPhone family and offer water resistance.
Fast forward to today and there is yet another feature being mentioned.
"Apple is set to release AirPods 2 sometime in the first half of 2019, and the new wireless earbuds with discrete designs to carry health monitoring functions are expected to receive enthusiastic market responses," Digitimes reports.
The site often posts rumors based on what it supposedly hears from sources in the supply chain, and its track record is mixed—some of it turns out to be true, some of it doesn't. In this case, it's hard to tell, though adding a health monitoring feature at least seems plausible. This is something Apple has focused on somewhat extensively in the wearables space—the Apple Watch Series 4 sports a built-in ECG—and it makes sense to stretch that focus over to its AirPods.
There are not other details, unfortunately, so we are left with more questions than answers. For example, would this consist of a heart rate monitor? And if so, how exactly would Apple implement that into its AirPods, and what effect would it have on battery life?
We will have to wait and see, and hopefully not for much longer.
