Key Takeaways
- Apple is predicted to refresh its earbud lineup this yr, with potential updates coming to all accessible fashions.
- Enhanced Android help is required to permit customers to totally entry options unique to Apple units with their AirPods.
- AirPods 4 potential enhancements embody higher sound high quality, USB-C charging, elevated water and mud resistance, Discover My help for the charging case, and addressing the shortage of ANC within the common mannequin.
When the iPhone 7 was launched with out an audio jack, Apple already had a plan for what to do with this new growth. The corporate wager laborious on the wi-fi earbuds market, to the dismay of wired headphone fans. This play definitely paid off in the long run, as at this time, if you concentrate on the best wireless earbuds, AirPods are for certain one of many first fashions that come to thoughts.
These days, Apple sells three completely different fashions of earbuds: AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro Gen 2. That being mentioned, all of them are a bit lengthy within the tooth now and prime for an replace, which is supposedly coming later this yr.
Apple is reportedly prepping 2 budget-friendly AirPods models for September
Each the 2nd and Third-generation AirPods are anticipated to get replaced by new fashions with improved designs within the fall.
In accordance with a few reports and leaks, we must be anticipating a brand-new headphones lineup from Apple, with all of the fashions being changed by one thing new. The AirPods Professional must be getting a third gen replace, whereas the AirPods 2 are supposedly going to get replaced by a lower-priced AirPods SE. That leaves AirPods 3 to be succeeded by AirPods 4 as the worth proposition of the lineup.
So, with fairly the difficult job of maintaining the worth proposition of the AirPods 3 alive, listed here are all of the modifications we might wish to see from the subsequent technology of AirPods.
1 Convey ANC to plain AirPods
Noise cancellation is simply too widespread to be a ‘Professional’ unique
The AirPods 3 are a fantastic possibility, however their MSRP of $169 is kind of a steep asking worth for a set of headphones with out energetic noise-cancelling. The competition at this price point, and decrease, is recurrently outfitted with each ANC and transparency modes, so the common AirPods are fairly missing on this regard.
![Holding OnePlus Buds 3 in the case](https://static1.pocketlintimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2024/02/_mg_2808.jpeg)
OnePlus Buds 3 made me realize I don’t need ‘premium’ ANC earbuds
I have been sporting the OnePlus Buds 3 ANC earbuds for 3 weeks, they usually’re an audiophile’s dream with out the costly price ticket.
Apple’s reasoning for that is the semi-open construct of the AirPods 3, however units reminiscent of Galaxy Buds Reside or Sony LinkBuds S present you can get a semi-open construct and add ANC to it — so it is time for Apple to strive it out as nicely.
2 Allow Precision Discovering
Why only a Professional 2 function?
One of many nice quality-of-life options that the AirPods Professional 2 delivered to the desk was enabling location not solely on the AirPods themselves, however on their charging case as nicely. This, coupled with a built-in speaker, means it is a lot simpler to make use of Discover My to find the case when you occur to lose it someplace.
![find my airpods on iphone 15 pro](https://static1.pocketlintimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2024/03/find-my-airpods-on-iphone-15-pro.png)
How to quickly find your Apple AirPods using Find My
When you misplace your AirPods you possibly can simply monitor them down and even put them in misplaced mode utilizing Apple’s built-in Discover My app.
We’re seen Discover My make its manner out of Apple merchandise into good units and even the Ember Journey Mug 2+. It is excessive time Apple trickled this function all the way down to the common AirPods 4. Dropping your favourite earbuds actually is a ache, so giving the house owners of the brand new AirPods the power to find their case a lot simpler can be a fantastic transfer for Apple.
3 Make the USB-C charging swap
Comply with the ‘Lightning ditching’ motion
One other welcome change that we’re all ready for with the AirPods 4 is lastly the inclusion of the USB-C port for charging. As Apple continues to embark on its Lightning to USB-C port transition, this function is extra of an almost-certain change that is coming, because the AirPods Professional 2 are already accessible with USB-C, so it could be fairly uncommon if the subsequent technology of normal AirPods nonetheless got here with an outdated port. Plus, with the latest iPhone 15 line-up and second-gen AirPods Pro 2 already adopting USB-C ports, it is simpler for customers to easily use (and maintain monitor of) only one charger for all Apple (and even Android) units.
![AirPods being held](https://static1.pocketlintimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2024/01/airpods-being-held.jpg)
7 features I want to see from AirPods Pro 3
With Wi-Fi audio, customizable transparency mode, and a dust-resistance ranking, the AirPods Professional 3 can be my mainstay.
4 Higher sound high quality
Nearer to ‘Professional’ refinements
Whereas the AirPods Professional enhances their unimaginable options with wonderful sound high quality, common AirPods might use some refinements. They’re serviceable, however you are shopping for them as a part of an Apple ecosystem, probably not as audiophile-grade audio gear.
Granted, the AirPods 3 made issues significantly better than the AirPods 2, however due to their semi-open design, they nonetheless do not sound that balanced, with fairly an enormous bass falloff.
![AirPods Pro 2 scrolling on stem](https://static1.pocketlintimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2023/12/airpods-pro-2-scrolling-on-stem.gif)
5 issues that can make AirPods too quiet and how to fix them
AirPods promise comfort, consolation, and elegance, however typically they will go quiet on you. Here is what to do to carry quantity again up.
We’re hoping that the AirPods 4 will deal with among the problems with the earlier generations, and ship not solely deeper bass, but additionally a extra balanced sound, extra akin to the AirPods Professional line. With the wonderful Adaptive Sound and Personalized Spatial Audio that the present gen already has, that may make AirPods 4 fairly an audio powerhouse.
5 Time for water and dust-proofing
IP68 can be nice
Proper now, all of the AirPods fashions can be found with IPX4 water resistance. It means they need to face up to unintentional splashes of water, however there aren’t any ensures towards mud and particles.
![AirPods Pro 2](https://static1.pocketlintimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2024/03/img_0568-1.jpeg)
Your AirPods aren’t waterproof: 5 things to do if they get wet
Your AirPods are sweat and water-resistant, however they are not waterproof. So, this is what to do in the event that they get moist — and no, rice is not the reply.
If the AirPods 4 had been outfitted with a greater water and mud resistance ranking, it could make them a perfect alternative to your beach-going headphones. Making the m IP67 or IP68 waterproof would go a great distance in making them extra versatile and letting you calm down by the pool together with your AirPods, with out worrying about getting them moist.
6 Present higher Android help
To actually change into a common earbud
Lastly, we arrive at a degree that each AirPods checklist ought to finish with: higher help for Android units. In fact, even now, you can use AirPods with your Android devices in order for you, however you are lacking out on a mess of options that Apple is maintaining as unique to Apple-branded units.
These are options reminiscent of Spatial Audio, automated ear detection or fast pairing, and even actually easy issues like checking the battery stage of your earbuds and their charging case.
The corporate simply deliberately chooses to worsen the standard of their earbuds on Android.
There are some workarounds you can check out to get a part of these options again, however it additionally means Apple might simply add them in as nicely. The corporate simply deliberately chooses to worsen the standard of their earbuds on Android.
Making these options accessible on Android wouldn’t solely be of nice assist to individuals who use each of those working programs, however would even be welcoming to individuals who would identical to to make use of AirPods with their Android units for no matter motive.
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