







AirPods were, upon their release back in 2016, a bit of a laughing stock as a result of their strange looks. Two years ago, people compared Apple's smart earbuds to earrings, but their success since then has been no laughing matter. Indeed, in the run-up to Christmas 2017, the AirPods had sold out literally everywhere, disappearing from the Apple Store, John Lewis, Argos and pretty much every other shop that stocked them.





So, the big question is, when will we finally get our hands on AirPods 2? The latest news to hit the scene comes all the way from Korea, in the form of a report from respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In the document (via

), produced 17 February, Kuo states that a new version of AirPods with wireless charging support and upgraded Bluetooth connectivity will start shipping in the first half of 2019.





The wireless charging theory goes hand-in-hand with another section of the report that states Apple's long-awaited AirPower is finally on the way, so could we see a big double release? Kuo has long had a reputation for correctly predicting Apple's release schedule as a result of his contacts within the tech giant's Asian supply chain, so we'd be tempted to put money on this being true.

Indeed, one Spanish tech blogger has gone a step further, predicting that we'll see the next-gen earbuds before March is out.

Applesfera recently reported that AirPods 2 will be unveiled at an Apple special event on 25 March, with an official release coming just four days later. The report claims that the insider info has arrived from sources within Apple's Asian supply chain, which state that 28 March is "the last day of the life cycle of the original AirPods".



Top Rated 10 Airpod Alternatives With Longest Battery Life

But what can we expect from AirPods 2? Read on to find out everything we know so far

AirPods 2 release date: When will you be able to buy them?

Unfortunately, Apple’s usually predictable annual release pattern doesn't apply to the AirPods. Being a first-generation product, we can’t use previous releases to predict a release date for the buds like we can with the iPhone, the iPad, and the Apple Watch. But what we can do is analyze rumors and speculation, most of which currently suggest a 2019 release. This would mean a three-year gap between generations of AirPods.

One rumor to recently hit the scene, somewhat, unfortunately, is that it could be a late-2019 release rather than an early one. Renowned leaker OnLeaks' most recent tweet claims that "an unconfirmed but reliable source" has told him "AirPods + new color(s) [will] likely [be] unveiled this Fall" – that's autumn to you and me.





Apple's EarBuds have always been produced in trademark pure white, so having a choice of colors could certainly prove to be an interesting development. However, those who have been waiting on the AirPods' successor since the release of the originals will be disheartened to hear that there's still a long way to go.

Analyst Barclays (via 9to5Mac ) suggested long ago that the next-gen AirPods would be released in 2019 rather than 2018, contrary to many former rumors. The report claims they will come with noise-canceling features that use physical analog methods instead of active noise cancellation.

Apple’s announcement of a second-generation AirPods charging case also suggests we might see AirPods 2 some time soon.

Such a product would allow the AirPods case to be charged via the upcoming AirPowerwireless charging case, which is set for release this year. The device was originally unveiled at the iPhone event way back in September 2017, when Tim Cook explained that it would be released at an unspecified date at some point in the near future. This leads us to think that the AirPods 2 will only be released in the wake of AirPower so that Apple can link the second-gen charging case with the second-gen earbuds.

This theory is supported by a report from Apple Toolbox, who claims that the AirPods 2 have caused the AirPower case to be delayed. In the report, the site says that instead of releasing the new charging case on its own, Apple will be holding the case and the AirPower mat back until AirPods 2 launch this year.

Many believed Apple would follow the same timing as its 2016 release and announce AirPods 2 at their keynote on 12 September 2018, with a subsequent release date. This proved to be unfounded, however, as Apple instead announced a range of new iPhones and a brand new Apple Watch.

AirPods 2 design: What will they look like?













Apple’s EarPods have stayed the same classic white for many a year, and the AirPods continued this trend. We sincerely doubt that Apple will switch from its trademark colors with the AirPods 2, but we can certainly dream. The iPhone and the Apple Watch come in a variety of colors, so why not extend these to the AirPods 2?

However, we already know that the new charging case looks largely the same, coming in white only. This means it's highly unlikely that we'll see a wider range of colors for the AirPods 2.

A new image from the iOS 12 beta does show one change to the AirPower charging case, though – an external LED. This would be useful as it gives users an indication as to when the case is fully charged.

Besides that, we hope Apple will improve on the fit of the AirPods, and maybe include some rubber tips that will make them feel more secure in the ears. The design isn't likely to change much – they’ll probably still have that receiver dangling from your ear canal.

Early October saw some news courtesy of serial Apple leaker Ben Geskin, purportedly revealing the AirPods 2. Eagle-eyed followers spotted a discrepancy in the images, though – the model number on the box was the same as the first-gen AirPods. Geskin has since acknowledged that the images are probably fake, so we'll keep waiting for leaks of the real thing as they're sure to come at some point.

AirPods 2 features: What will they do?





Apart from a Bloomberg report, which suggests that the second-gen AirPods will have an upgraded wireless chip and will allow the wearer to summon Siri just by saying 'Hey Siri', other details have been pretty scant. We don't expect the AirPods 2 to introduce many more features than the ones already stated above, but patents are always good indicators of whether the company does have something special up its sleeve or not.

A recent forecast from market research group CCS Insight predicts that Apple will push into the 'smart hearable' market, saying that "it's only a matter of time before Apple adds more functions to its AirPods. If this happens, Apple could kick-start this device category like it shook up the smartwatch market with the Apple Watch."

Here are the features that Apple might be putting into the AirPods 2.

1. Faster charging time





XDA writer and TV host Max Weinbach have suggested in a tweet that AirPods 2 will charge from empty to full juice in just 15 minutes.

This would be a huge improvement on the current AirPods' charging time of just over an hour, but would require alterations to the design of the AirPods' case. Most significantly, as Weinbach states, it would mean the case is likely to be bigger and heavier in order to house the required Qi coils.

It could only be a marginal gain, though. We'll have to wait and see whether the faster charging time will negatively impact the AirPods 2 experience.

2. Biometric sensors



