Upgraded AirPods With Hands-Free Siri Coming Soon, Water-Resistant Model In 2019

Apple is already rumored to be working on upgraded version of AirPods this year and now a new report has more details on exactly what those upgrades are going to be.

People familiar with the matter claim Apple is working on a new version of the AirPods that will be released as early as this year. This version of the wireless earphones will apparently arrive with an upgraded wireless chip, which will manage Bluetooth connections. Most importantly, the 2018 AirPods, known internally as B288, will also have hands-free voice command feature, according to Bloomberg.

The report claims the new hands-free voice command feature will work without the user having to tap on the wireless headphones. Users will be able to call on the Siri voice assistant by simply saying “Hey, Siri.” This hands-free function is already being used by Apple on the iPhone and most recently the HomePod smart speaker.

Expanding the functionality to its upgraded pair of AirPods could give consumers more reason to purchase the wireless headphones. This will also streamline how Siri works across most of Apple’s devices.

Back in December, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted Apple would release upgraded AirPods during the second half of 2018. Kuo also claimed this new version of the AirPods will have a higher average selling price than the $159 original.

Bloomberg’s report also claimed that Apple is also planning to release water resistant AirPods for 2019. People familiar with the matter claim that Apple wants these wireless headphones to be able to survive splashes of water and rain. However, this version of the AirPods won’t be designed to survive being submerged underwater.

Apple current lineup of iPhones are all IP67 water and dust resistant, which means that they are completely resistant to splashes of water. The IP rating also means that the iPhones can survive when submerged in 1 meter of water for a period of 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch is being sold as “swim-proof.”

The first-generation AirPods are not listed as being water resistant but it’s designed to be used while users are working up a sweat during jogs or other workouts. However, some tests have proven that the original AirPods could survive being submerged in water. The original Apple wireless headphones doesn’t have an IP certification and it’s still a bit of risk to expose it to water. Perhaps the 2019 water resistant AirPods will change that. Sources say that Apple’s plans could still change or be delayed for the water resistant AirPods.