HIGHLIGHTS

* Apple is planning to release the USB-C version of the AirPods Pro 2. 
* The AirPods Pro 2 with USB Type-C port could begin mass shipment in Q2 or Q3 of 2023. 
* No other AirPods are currently slated to shift to the Type C port.
* The new Apple AirPods Pro second-generation model has a lightning port for the case.
* Apple might refresh the AirPods Pro with a new charging port.
* The regular AirPods might continue to offer a lightning port for the case.

Apple might launch a new pair of AirPods later this year. The company launched the AirPods Pro last year with updated hardware that claimed to enhance the sound quality while offering premium features, such as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency Mode, Spatial Audio, etc.

Despite the number of numbers, what did not change is the design of the earbuds and the charging case. Apple might soon bring one minor yet key change to the AirPods Pro later this year.

The upcoming AirPods Pro might get a new charging case with the USB Type-C port. The leak comes from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who also revealed the production details and possible launch timeline of the new Pro Apple wireless earbuds.

Apple will soon launch the USB Type-C version of the Apple AirPods Pro 2, says seasoned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The development stems from references present in Apple’s latest iOS release, iOS 16.4 beta, which was rolled out by developers very recently.

Analyst Kuo in his tweet, also mentions that the new AirPods Pro 2 with the Type-C charging port will start mass shipping sometime in the second or third quarter of 2023. He added that the AirPods 2 and the AirPods 3 are unlikely to get USB-C versions.

Let’s take a look at the AirPods Pro launch timeline, leaked specs and other details known so far.

Apple AirPods Pro with USB Type-C Case Tipped

The upcoming Apple AirPods Pro might get an iterative yet significant update later this year. The charging case could get a USB Type-C port.

Currently, Apple’s AirPods lineup comes with a Lightning port for charging the case. It is, other than the iPhone, the only major Apple product to not have launched with a Type-C port. The iPad and MacBook are all featuring a USB Type-C port.

According to Kuo (via), Apple will kick-off with the mass shipments of the USB Type-C AirPods Pro in the second or third quarter of 2023.

At the moment, it is unknown if the upcoming premium Apple TWS earbuds will get any other hardware changes other than the new charging port.

The upcoming iPhone 15 series is also said to get the new USB Type-C port finally after Apple is forced to comply to the European Union’s law if it intends to sell any iPhones there.

Therefore, it makes complete sense for the AirPods Pro to also get the new USB Type-C charging port. However, only the Pro version is said to get the universal Type-C port as the second-generation and third-generation AirPods (not Pro) will continue to feature a lightning port.

There are rumours of Apple limiting the capabilities of the Type-C port on the iPhone.
However, more details about the same should surface as we inch closer to
the rumoured September launch timeline.

Meanwhile, customers in India can buy the new AirPods Pro for Rs 26,900. The new AirPods Pro second-generation features the company’s new H2 chip, which is claimed to offer exceptional acoustic experience. ANC is also said to be twice as good compared to the original model.

The second-generation AirPods Pro support Bluetooth 5.3, Spatial Audio for personalised sound and gesture controls, including touch-based controls for volume adjustments.

Apple claims that the new Pro TWS earbuds are rated to last for up to six hours on a single charge. With the charging case combined, users can expect to get up to 30 hours of battery life.

AirPods Pro 2 with USB Type-C Charging Port Coming Soon

This shift from the Lightning port to USB-C is most likely a direct influence of the European Union’s ruling that requires all mobile phones, tablets, and other electronic devices to come equipped with Type-C ports.

Apple has already started shipping its Mac and iPad devices with the Type-C connector, however, the AirPods and iPhone lineup currently uses the company’s proprietary Lighting connector.

With the recent developments that have been spotted on iOS 16.4 beta rollout, it is likely that AirPods Pro 2 is ready to shift to a Type-C port for charging.

According to one person, the new AirPods carrying model number A3048 along with AirPods case with model number A2968 were found as references in the new version of iOS 16.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo later suggested that these could indicate the upcoming AirPods Pro 2 with the Type-C charging port. The new AirPods Pro 2 is likely to start mass shipping in Q2 or Q3 of 2023. It is still unclear whether the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 will get this Type-C connecter update.

The iPhone is also likely to shift to a Type-C charging port with the iPhone 15 series. The EU’s ruling technically allows the upcoming iPhone 15 to continue having the Lightning port. Some models are expected to shift to the Type-C port.

Previously, Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, had said at The Wall Street Journal’s Tech Live conference in October that Apple will “obviously” have to comply” with the rule.

“We have no choice,” Joswiak said when asked about whether Apple will switch to USB Type C port as per the EU directive. â€*

FAQ’s on Apple AirPods Pro

1) Should You Buy AirPods Pro?

Ans) The second-generation AirPods Pro are Apple’s premium in-ear wireless earbuds, offering a range of features including precision finding, touch volume controls, and more. Released in September 2022, the second-generation AirPods Pro are still new in Apple’s product lineup and the company does not release new AirPods models often.

Apple has now debuted six different versions of the AirPods, giving a sign of how often it updates the device. Apple released new AirPods Pro in October 2019 and September 2022, indicating that the company updates the product around every three years – a time frame that aligns with the other AirPods models. This means that it is unlikely that there will be new AirPods Pro soon.

With this in mind, and given that there have not yet been any concrete signs of new AirPods or notable rumors around what an upgraded model could feature, now is still a good time to buy AirPods Pro.

With a $249 price tag, AirPods can be more expensive than some of its direct competitors, but it’s important to note that the H2 chips inside the AirPods offer a seamless and fully integrated pairing and device-switching experience for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV users, which competitors are unable to match. The H2 chips also enable features like Adaptive EQ and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking.

This means that when used with Apple devices, AirPods seem to be the best option for earbuds when it comes to features.

If you are looking for AirPods without an in-ear design, there are the third-generation AirPods, which start from $179. For an even higher fidelity AirPods experience and an over-ear design, there are the AirPods Max which start at $549.

On the other hand, if you feel that the AirPods Pro are too expensive, but you would still like Apple’s seamless pairing and device-switching experience, the second-generation AirPods or Beats headphones are also viable options, with prices starting from as little as $69 for Beats Flex.

2) What is AirPods Pro Design?

Ans) The second-generation AirPods Pro feature the same design as the original AirPods Pro, despite rumors that we could see some major changes. There were rumors of a stemless design, but that did not pan out, and Apple is continuing to use the same rounded in-ear bud with flexible silicone tips and a short stem.

Apple designed the silicone tips to confirm to the contours of each individual ear, ensuring a comfortable fit and a good seal, an important factor for noise cancellation. The AirPods Pro 2 tips come in extra small, small, medium, and large, and the tips click into place on the AirPods Pro for easy swapping.

The AirPods Pro measure in at 30.9mm tall and 21.8mm wide, identical to the original AirPods Pro. They weigh 5.3 grams.

There is a new skin-detect sensor in the AirPods that is designed to better detect when the AirPods are removed from the ears in order to preserve battery life.

The new AirPods continue to feature a vent system for pressure equalization when using Active Noise Cancellation. It is designed to minimize the discomfort that can happen with other earbud designs.

3) How is the Water Resistance feature in apple AirPods Pro?

Ans) Apple says that the AirPods Pro and the MagSafe Charging Case are “sweat and water resistant,” offering IPX4 water resistance. IPX4 water resistance was also a feature of the original AirPods Pro, but the case is more water resistant now.

IPX4 water resistance means the AirPods Pro and the case can hold up to sweat and light rain, but they should not be submerged and liquid exposure should be avoided when possible. Apple’s warranty does not cover water or sweat damage.

4) How is Sound Quality of Apple AirPods Pro ?

Ans) Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro are outfitted with an updated custom high-excursion low-distortion Apple driver and a custom high dynamic range amplifier, which Apple says brings richer, deeper bass and crystal-clear sound at all volume levels.

Microphones

There are two dual beamforming microphones and an inward-facing microphone for Active Noise Cancellation purposes.

Adaptive EQ

Adaptive EQ is designed to improve sound quality by taking into account the shape of the ear. The feature uses computational audio and an updated internal microphone pointed toward the ear to optimize sound for each person.

Sound is tuned in real time based on the fit of the AirPod in the user’s ear, with the AirPods Pro adjusting and tuning the low and mid frequencies for consistent playback every time.

Apple says the new H2 chip uses new adaptation algorithms to process sound more quickly, tuning audio at the precise second that it is heard, for higher-fidelity sound. Phone calls also sound more natural thanks to voice enhancement algorithms.

Spatial Audio

Apple introduced Spatial Audio in 2021, bringing a surround sound like experience to Apple Music, the Apple TV app, and more. With Dolby Atmos tracks in Apple Music, the AirPods Pro can provide a multi-dimensional audio experience that makes it so the sound comes from all around you.

Spatial audio applies directional audio filters and subtly adjusts the frequencies that each ear receives to place sounds virtually anywhere in space for an immersive listening experience. The feature uses sensors in the AirPods Pro along with sensors in the iPhone or iPad to track the motion of a person’s head as well as the position of their device, comparing the motion data and remapping the sound field so that it stays anchored to the device even as the head moves.

Dynamic head tracking works with spatial audio and on Group FaceTime calls so it sounds like the FaceTime participants are right in the room with you.

The AirPods Pro also support Personalized Spatial Audio, which is an iOS 16 feature. With Personalized Spatial Audio, you can use your TrueDepth camera to scan the area around you to create a custom sound experience.

5) How is Battery Life of Apple AirPods Pro 2?

Ans) On their own, the AirPods Pro 2 offer up to six hours of listening time, or 5.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking enabled. When used for talking, the battery lasts for a total of 4.5 hours. The AirPods Pro 2 earbuds feature a battery capacity of 49.7 mAh, up 15 percent from 43.2 mAh capacity of the prior-generation AirPods Pro earbuds, which accounts for some of the difference in battery life.

The MagSafe Charging Case has a battery capacity of 523 mAh, up just 4 mAh over the prior-generation case. With the MagSafe Charging Case, the AirPods Pro 2 offer up to 30 hours of listening time and 24 hours of talk time before needing to be recharged. Charging can be done using a MagSafe charger, a Lightning cable, a Qi-based charger, or, new this year, the Apple Watch charger.

Apple says that five minutes in the charging case provides the AirPods Pro with one hour of listening time or one hour of talk time.

Also Read: Ming-Chi Kuo Announces Apple’s Long-Rumored MR/AR Headset Could Eventually Launch by the Fall

Also Read: Apple Working on AirPods Lite; Speculated to be a Cheaper Version of AirPods

Also Read: Apple to bring USB-C charging to AirPods in 2023, claims tech analyst