Apple's "Far Out" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the iPhone 14 lineup, several new Apple Watch models, updated AirPods Pro, and perhaps some other announcements.
Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We will also be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds. Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today's announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.
Apple will be hosting a special event at Steve Jobs Theater today starting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. As usual, the latest iPhone and Apple Watch models are expected to be unveiled, but there will likely be several other announcements as well.
Below, we've put together a list of four announcements to expect today beyond the iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Pro.
Rumors suggest the new AirPods Pro will have many new features, including improved audio quality, longer battery life, a revamped charging case with Find My support and water resistance, improved in-ear detection, fitness tracking capabilities, and more. The new AirPods Pro might also feature support for Bluetooth LE Audio, which would have several benefits, such as allowing AirPods Pro to connect to an iPhone and Mac simultaneously.
New iPhone Cases and Apple Watch Bands
As usual, it's likely that new iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands will be released in a variety of fresh colors. The new cases and bands sometimes become available to order on Apple's online store just minutes after the event ends.
There could also be new colors for some other iPhone-related accessories, such as the MagSafe Wallet and the AirTag Key Ring.
iOS 16, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16 Release Dates
iOS 16 for the iPhone, watchOS 9 for the Apple Watch, and tvOS 16 for the Apple TV are all expected to be released in September following several months of beta testing, and Apple will likely provide exact release dates for these software updates today.
There could be at least two announcements related to the Apple One bundle of services today.
As reported by MacRumors last week, Verizon is planning to become the first U.S. carrier to offer Apple One as a free perk with an eligible smartphone plan — likely it's most expensive 5G Get More plan, which costs $90 per month for one person. Verizon may announce this news at some point today alongside the iPhone 14 reveal. Apple One includes services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ storage.
Second, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in his newsletter that Apple is "gearing up to launch an iPhone subscription service tied to Apple One" by the end of the year. It would be fitting for Apple to announce this service at its annual iPhone event.
Apple's next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will feature new chips, but few other changes, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a post on Medium today, Kuo said Apple has lowered its fourth quarter shipment forecast for the new MacBook Pro models by 20% to 30% before mass production of the notebooks begins due to lower than expected demand. Kuo said signs of a recession and fewer people working from home are two reasons for Apple's reduction in orders, while "limited new selling points" for the new MacBook Pro models may also impact demand.
"The main upgrade of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros is only the adoption of new processors," wrote Kuo, in the Medium post. "The limited new selling points may also result in lower-than-expected demand."
It's unsurprising that few changes are planned for the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models given the notebooks launched with a significant redesign in October 2021 that included a notch at the top of the display, the return of ports like MagSafe and HDMI, and more. MacBooks often go multiple generations between major hardware changes.
The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are expected to be equipped with Apple's M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, which Kuo believes will remain 5nm. Apple is expected to hold an event in October focused on new iPad and Mac models, but it's unclear if the new MacBook Pro models will be announced at that event or at some point next year.
Apple's "Far Out" media event kicks off at 10:00 am Pacific Time with members of the media in attendance for what is expected to be an at least partially pre-recorded presentation. We know that some MacRumors readers who can't follow the event as it's being broadcast are interested in avoiding all of the announcements and waiting until the event video is available for on-demand viewing so as to experience it without already knowing the outcome.
For those individuals, we've posted this news story, which will be updated with a direct link to the presentation once it becomes available from Apple. No other news stories or announcements will be displayed alongside this story.
Apple's recent virtual events have been made available to view almost immediately following the conclusion of the broadcasts, and we expect similar timing for today's event.
Users waiting for the video to be posted are welcome to gather in the thread associated with this news story, and we ask that those who follow the events as they occur refrain from making any posts about Apple's announcements in this thread.
Apple has taken down its online storefront hours ahead of its "Far out" event in preparation for the announcement of the new iPhone 14, new Apple Watches, AirPods Pro, and more.
The event, being held at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, will include a wide range of new announcements and updates. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max as the new iPhone series.
The two higher-end models of the lineup, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, are expected to feature the biggest changes, including a new pill-shaped notch replacement, an always-on display, longer battery life, and more advanced cameras. According to rumors, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will have relatively few new features and changes.
For the Apple Watch, Apple is planning an updated Apple Watch Series 8 that is rumored to feature an all-new body temperature sensor but retains the same design as the Apple Watch Series 7.
MacRumors will have in-depth coverage of Apple's event, which kicks off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, including a live blog on our website and tweets via @MacRumorsLive on Twitter. For a full rundown of everything we expect to see, be sure to check out our guide.
YouTube TV on the Apple TV has been updated with 5.1 audio support, YouTube announced today. The updated audio works with compatible live, DVR, and video on-demand content that's watched on YouTube TV.
5.1 audio offers surround sound and has brand names that include Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic, THX, and DTS.
YouTube says that content that supports 5.1 surround sound will play in that format automatically when using the YouTube app on a compatible device, which now includes the Apple TV. YouTube TV users can check if content supports 5.1 audio by playing a video, selecting the More option, choosing the Bug, and checking stats for nerds.
The Justice Ministry in Brazil today ordered Apple to stop selling iPhones without a charger in the box, reports Reuters. Brazilian officials say that Apple is giving customers an incomplete product when the power adapter is not included with the purchase, a move the government claims is a "deliberate discriminatory practice against consumers."
Apple has been fined 12.275 million reais (~$2.34 million) for selling iPhones without chargers, and Brazilian officials are forcing the company to cease offering any iPhone that does not come with a power adapter, including the iPhone 12 and newer.
The Brazilian state of São Paulo previously fined Apple close to $2 million for not providing a charger with modern iPhones, which the São Paulo consumer protection agency said was a violation of Consumer Law Code. Apple also lost a 2022 lawsuit in the country after a customer who did not receive a charger sued.
Apple has told Brazilian officials that not including a power adapter with the iPhone offers environmental benefits and cuts down on waste, but Brazil has thus far rejected this argument.
Apple stopped providing chargers with iPhones starting with the 2020 launch of the iPhone 12 lineup. In most countries, Apple no longer ships iPhones with EarPods or a power adapter, including just a USB-C to Lightning charging cable. Apple says that most customers already have power adapters on hand to charge with, and has told customers that removing these accessories is part of its effort to "reach [its] environmental goals."
The Justice Ministry's order comes one day ahead of Apple's iPhone 14 announcement, which will see the debut of updated iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.
"At Apple, we consider our impact on people and the planet in everything we do," the company said in an emailed statement. "Power adapters represented our largest use of zinc and plastic and eliminating them from the box helped cut over 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions -- equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from the road per year." [...]
"We've already won a number of court decisions in Brazil on this topic and are confident our customers are aware of the various options to charge and connect their devices," the Cupertino, California-based company said.
Professional storage and networking accessory company Sonnet Technologies today announced a pair of solutions for Mac Studio users who are looking to rack mount their machines alongside other components.
The RackMac Studio is a 3U rackmount enclosure measuring 9.5 inches deep that can support a pair of Mac Studio units while preserving access to the front ports and offering front access to a USB-A port and the power button for each machine right from the front of the enclosure. Space beneath the Mac Studio units can also be used to house small peripherals like bus-powered external SSDs. It will be priced at $449.99 and will be available starting the week of October 24.
The xMac Studio is a larger enclosure that still measures 3U high but 16.5 inches deep and which can pair a single Mac Studio with Sonnet's Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion systems. The enclosure is available in three configurations for maximum flexibility: with either an Echo I or Echo III module or without a module in case you want to reuse an existing one. All versions also include a four-port USB-A hub fed from the Mac Studio, as well as a front-mounted power button and space underneath for small peripherals.
The Echo I module includes a single x16 PCIe slot for one full-height, full-length card, a single 40Gbps Thunderbolt port, dual fans, and a 400W power supply, while the Echo III module bumps that up to three PCIe slots (one x16 and two x8) and two Thunderbolt ports. The version without an expansion module will be priced at $549.99, while the Echo I version will be priced at $1,249.99 and the Echo III version will be priced at $1,649.99. The xMac Studio systems will begin shipping the week of September 26.
Solid deals have returned for the AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro on Amazon, offering up to $69 off these popular headphones.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
AirPods 2
You can get the AirPods 2 for $99.99, down from $129.00. This remains the best price we've seen on the AirPods 2 since their all-time low sale during Prime Day. At just $10 higher today, this is still a solid second-best price.
This is the model of AirPods that comes with the Wired Charging Case. Apple discontinued the AirPods 2 with the Wireless Charging Case so we haven't seen any notable deals on that accessory in months.
AirPods Pro with MagSafe
Secondly, Amazon has the AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case for $179.99, down from $249.00. This is the second-best price we've ever tracked on the new AirPods Pro.
The new AirPods Pro launched in 2021, and are essentially the same as the 2019 model with the addition of the new MagSafe Charging Case. Shoppers should note that we are expecting new AirPods Pro at Apple's "Far Out" event tomorrow, but there likely won't be any significant deals for a long time.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.
Polk Audio today debuted its latest flagship sound bar systems, the MagniFi Max AX and AX SR. The compact systems both include an 11-speaker-array sound bar with dedicated center channels and up-firing height speakers, as well as a 10-inch wireless subwoofer. The SR system adds two additional wireless surround speakers.
The new sound bars support both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X along with Polk's patented Stereo Dimensional Array (SDA) technology for immersive sound, and AirPlay 2 is a welcome inclusion for Apple fans. Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and Works with Alexa services are also supported thanks to both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
One-touch modes optimize the systems for movies, TV, or music, while Night Mode turns down the bass to reduce potentially disruptive bass sounds and Polk's VoiceAdjust technology ensures that voices are intelligible above the rest of the audio. Connections include 3-in/1-out 4K HDMI ports with eARC, as well as an optical input. A subtle OLED display on the front panel shows your adjustments but dims when not in use.
The MagniFi Max AX ($799) and MagniFi Max AX SR ($899) systems are available to order starting today and will begin shipping next month.
New renders of the upcoming Apple Watch Pro have given us the best look yet at what's expected to become the newest high-end Apple Watch, featuring an all-new design, a larger and flat display, and a new physical button.
The Apple Watch Pro will feature the first significant redesign of the Apple Watch since the Series 4, rethinking the case design to become less curved with an entirely flat display. The display on the Apple Watch Pro is expected to be considerably bigger than the Series 7 and the upcoming Series 8, thanks to the flatter top design.
Fitting with its more rugged look and feel, the Apple Watch Pro features all-new protruding housing for the Digital Crown and the Side Button. Both are housed in a mold on the right side of the watch that protrudes outwards, which could make them more easily accessible. The Digital Crown itself is also being redesigned to feature more prominent indents.
On the left side of the watch, the Apple Watch Pro is expected to feature an all-new physical button similar to the Side Button. The button is rumored to be configurable to a user's liking. It could be customized to open watchOS apps, begin specific workouts, or even quickly run shortcuts without navigating the watch itself.
With the larger display on the Apple Watch Series 7, Apple updated visual elements across watchOS to take better advantage of the added real estate. The same is expected with the Apple Watch Pro and its larger display. Compared to the Series 7's display size of 1.691-inches and 1.901-inches on the 41mm and 45mm sizes, the Apple Watch Pro screen could measure around 1.99-inches in a 49mm case.
On the Apple Watch Pro, customers can expect new watch faces that take advantage of the larger display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Also, according to Gurman, expect Apple to release a new line of watch bands designed specifically for the Apple Watch Pro. Existing watch bands are expected to be somewhat compatible with the Apple Watch Pro but may not be an exact fit.
Changes coming to watchOS 9 that show additional on screen
The new watch faces could have room to display metrics from workouts and health data gathered by the watch. The new watch faces come in addition to improvements made in watchOS 9 that seem tailored towards a larger Apple Watch, such as refinements during Workouts that show additional metrics all in one screen.
Beyond a new design and a larger display, the Apple Watch Pro will likely benefit from all the improvements coming to the Apple Watch Series 8, including a new body temperature sensor. The body temperature sensor, unlike typical thermometers, is unlikely to provide wearers a direct reading of their body temperature in its early iteration.
The Apple Watch Pro, with its all-new design, larger display, and more durable materials, is expected to cost somewhere between $900 and $1,000. The new watch will be the most expensive Apple Watch yet, likely replacing the Apple Watch Edition at the top of the lineup. The Apple Watch Pro, the Apple Watch Series 8, a new Apple Watch SE, new iPhones, and more are all rumored to be on the agenda for Apple's "Far out" event tomorrow.
Apple is hosting an online streaming media event for the public and press on September 7, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The company is expected to announce its new iPhone 14 lineup alongside an Apple Watch Series 8, a larger fitness-focused Apple Watch "Pro", new AirPods Pro earphones, and potentially other products during the event, dubbed "Far Out." Here's how you can watch it and when, wherever you are in the world.
There are multiple ways to watch the September 7 event, with details listed below. We've also included a useful guide on when the event will take place in your particular time zone.
Apple Events Website
With the Apple Events website, you can watch the event live on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, PC, or any other device with a web browser. The Apple Events website works in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and other main browsers.
Just navigate to www.apple.com/apple-events/ using a web browser at the appropriate time to watch. You can visit the site now to add an event reminder to your calendar.
YouTube
Apple also plans to stream the event live on YouTube, which is perhaps the easiest and most efficient way to watch because the YouTube live stream can be viewed on every platform where YouTube is available, which is pretty much all platforms, from smartphones and tablets to consoles and smart TVs.
Apple used to have a dedicated Apple Events app on the Apple TV, but ahead of WWDC 2020, it was folded into the Apple TV app. On event day, there will be a prominent Apple TV app section dedicated to the live stream, which can be watched on any device where the Apple TV app is available.
This includes the Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, and Macs, as well as select smart TVs, streaming devices, and gaming consoles. If you have an Apple TV, the Apple TV app is one of the best ways to watch the event live. Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV app with the new event as of yet, but it should be added soon.
When to Watch the Apple Event
Apple's event will take place at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, like most Apple events. Event times in other time zones are listed below.
Honolulu, Hawaii — 7:00 a.m. HAST
Anchorage, Alaska — 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona — 10:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado — 11:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas — 12:00 noon CDT
New York, New York — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada — 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 2:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom — 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa — 7:00 p.m. SAST
Helsinki, Finland — 8:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey — 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India — 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia — 12:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China — 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore — 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia — 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong — 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea — 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan — 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Adelaide, Australia — 2:30 a.m. ACST next day
Sydney, Australia — 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Auckland, New Zealand — 5:00 a.m. NZST next day
MacRumors Coverage
If you're not able to watch or just want to follow along with us as we watch the event unfold, visit MacRumors.com for our liveblog or follow us on Twitter at MacRumorsLive for our live tweet coverage.
Both the MacRumors site and our Twitter account are excellent ways to discuss the new announcements with other Apple enthusiasts as Apple unveils its new products. Later in the day and throughout the week, we'll also have much more in-depth coverage of all of Apple's announcements, so make sure to stay tuned.
Amazon has knocked the price of the new M2 MacBook Pro (512GB) down to $1,299.00, from $1,499.00. This sale price is available in both Silver and Space Gray color options.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
At $200 off, this is an all-time low price on the 512GB M2 13-inch MacBook Pro. Apple just updated this notebook in June, offering various internal improvements over the previous generation with the same aluminum body design.
The 256GB M2 MacBook Pro is also being discounted this week on Amazon, available for $1,149.00, down from $1,299.00. Both computers are in stock today and have estimated delivery dates between September 9 and 11.
If you're on the hunt for deals on the 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, check out our deal post from last week highlighting $400 off markdowns on these notebooks.
You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
Hyper today is launching a new 140-watt HyperJuice charger with PD 3.1 support that's capable of fast charging even a 16-inch MacBook Pro from 0 to 50% in just 30 minutes when paired with Apple's USB-C to MagSafe 3 charging cable.
Compared to Apple's 140-watt charger, Hyper's version is 24% smaller and includes three USB ports instead of just one. The HyperJuice charger includes two USB-C ports (one at a maximum of 140 watts and one at a maximum of 100 watts) as well as a USB-A port with a maximum of 30 watts of charging power. With a total maximum output of 140 watts, that power will be split between the ports if you have multiple devices connected.
The HyperJuice 140W PD 3.1 USB-C Charger for the U.S. market features foldable prongs and is priced at $129.99. Swappable heads for the UK, Europe, and Australia are included, as is a 2-meter USB-C to USB-C cable.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Hyper. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple's 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 has hit $399.99 on Amazon, down from an original price of $499.00. We've seen this deal a few times in 2022, but it's rarely been available in stock for all colors of the iPad mini, as it is this week.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The iPad mini is shipped and sold directly from Amazon, with the fastest delivery estimated to arrive on September 9, and free delivery estimated for September 11. As of writing, only Amazon is offering $99 off the iPad mini.
Not only the 64GB Wi-Fi model is on sale, as you can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini for $549.99, down from $649.00. Additionally, the 64GB Cellular model is available for $549.99 and the 256GB Cellular model is on sale for $699.99, both sales representing $99 discounts on the 2021 iPad mini.
For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
Apple's largest event of the year takes place tomorrow, where we're expecting to see the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Pro, new Apple Watches, and new AirPods Pro.
While this is Apple's most anticipated and jam-packed event of the year, there are several products Apple is working on that won't see their debut tomorrow. We've rounded up three things you should not expect to see announced during tomorrow's event.
New iPad Pros
If you're hoping to see some iPad action tomorrow, you may want to think again. Apple is working on new iPad Pros with the M2 chip that it plans to announce at an event next month, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, so we're unlikely to see anything related to the iPad or iPadOS until then. Apple is also working on an updated entry-level iPad, and while the company is planning an iPad-focused event for next month, a new base iPad launch tomorrow would not be unprecedented.
New Macs
Alongside new iPads later this fall, Apple is also planning to update the current Mac mini with M1 to feature the all-new M2 Apple silicon chip. The upcoming Mac mini, despite rumors, will feature no redesign and only a performance boost, according to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, which says it will launch in 2023. As a result, we're unlikely to see any news related to the Mac mini or any other Mac during the event tomorrow, which is expected to be iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods focused.
Any News on AR/VR Headset
If you look at Apple's event invite for tomorrow's event, you may think the company could be alluding to the long-rumored reveal of its AR/VR headset. Unfortunately, you'd be mistaken. Apple is not expected to discuss its future AR/VR plans during the event. Instead, it is rumored to be planning an event for January 2023 to unveil its first AR/VR headset named "Reality Pro."
What *To* Expect
On the flip side, expect Apple to announce the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, new Apple Watch models, AirPods Pro, and more. For a full rundown of everything we're likely to hear about tomorrow, see our guide.
Popular accessory brand Anker today is announcing a pair of charging accessories, led by a new 511 Nano 3 USB-C charger using the company's latest GaN technology. The Nano 3 packs 30 watts of charging power into a package that's just barely larger than Apple's paltry 5-watt USB-A charger and 70% smaller than Apple's 30-watt USB-C charger.
Equipped with folding prongs for travel portability and protection, the Nano 3 is available in five color options: black, white, blue, green, and purple. It also includes Anker's ActiveShield 2.0 technology to intelligently monitor temperature and adjust charging output to prevent overheating. With PowerIQ 3.0 and Programmable Power Supply (PPS) support, it delivers optimized fast charging to a range of devices.
The Anker Nano 3 charger launches today on Amazon with a normal price of $22.99 in the United States, but there is a 10% launch discount good through September 19.
Left to right: Apple 30W USB-C charger, Anker Nano 3 30W USB-C charger, Apple 5W USB-A charger
To complement the Nano 3, Anker is also launching new eco-friendly color-matched USB-C to Lightning and USB-C to USB-C cables in 3-foot and 6-foot lengths.
Engineered to stand up to over 20,000 bends in the lab, the new Anker 541 Lightning and 543 USB-C cables claim an industry-first eco-friendly design with the cable exteriors made of 40% bio-based materials derived from plants like corn and sugarcane. A color-matched cable wrap made of the same material also helps keep the cable tidy. Finally, the cables use 90% less plastic in their packaging with a pulp-based inner tray and 100% recyclable packaging paper with soy ink printing.
The 541 USB-C to Lightning cable is MFi certified, and when paired with a sufficiently powerful charger like the Nano 3, it can charge an iPhone 13 from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes. The 543 USB-C to USB-C cable features E-Marker chips to allow for communication between connected devices and chargers and supports up to 100 watts of charging power.
Anker will also be selling bundles of the Nano 3 with the matching 6-foot USB-C to Lightning cable for $37.99, but only in white and purple, with the white version seeing a 10% launch discount through September 19.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple reportedly plans to introduce the second-generation AirPods Pro alongside the iPhone 14 during a special event at Steve Jobs Theater this Wednesday. If you are considering upgrading to the new AirPods Pro once they are released, keep reading for a list of new features and improvements that have been rumored so far.
In addition to all-new features, the second-generation AirPods Pro will likely adopt some features added to the third-generation standard AirPods last year. The new AirPods Pro might also adopt Bluetooth's LE Audio specification, which would have several benefits.
H2 Chip With Improved Audio Quality
The new AirPods Pro will feature a "significantly upgraded" wireless chip compared to the H1 chip in the original AirPods Pro, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The new chip could be branded as an "H2 chip."
Kuo did not elaborate on what benefits the new chip would provide, but given that the H1 chip powers audio-related functions, the upgraded chip in the second-generation AirPods Pro could result in improvements to sound quality, latency, active noise cancellation, Transparency mode, features powered by Siri, and more.
It's possible the new AirPods Pro will feature Bluetooth 5.2 or higher with support for LE Audio. The specification includes a new low-power audio codec called LC3 that provides improved audio quality compared to the classic SBC codec, even at a 50% lower bit rate, according to the Bluetooth SIG organization.
Longer Battery Life
While there haven't been any firm rumors about the new AirPods Pro featuring longer battery life, it's reasonable to expect improvements in this area given that nearly three years have passed since the original AirPods Pro launched.
Apple's standard third-generation AirPods released last year provide up to six hours of listening time per charge, compared to up to 4.5 hours for the current AirPods Pro. Even with active noise cancellation and Transparency mode turned off, the AirPods Pro last up to five hours per charge, which is still less than the third-generation AirPods.
One way the new AirPods Pro could achieve longer battery life is by adopting LE Audio's low-power LC3 audio codec as rumored.
Revamped Charging Case
The new AirPods Pro charging case is expected to gain Find My support, allowing users to track the location of the case in the Find My app in the event it is lost or misplaced, even when the AirPods Pro are not placed in the case. Earlier this year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the case will be able to emit a sound when lost, with alleged renders of the case showing it will have speaker holes along the bottom.
It's also likely the new AirPods Pro charging case will have IPX4-rated water and sweat resistance like the charging case for the third-generation AirPods. Currently, only the AirPods Pro earbuds have water resistance and not the case.
It may also be possible to attach a lanyard to the new case.
Improved In-Ear Detection
Yet another feature that the next AirPods Pro will likely adopt from the third-generation AirPods is a skin-detect sensor for more accurate in-ear detection compared to the dual optical sensors in the original AirPods Pro.
Apple says the skin-detect sensor "accurately discerns if AirPods are in the ear — versus in a pocket or on a table — and pauses playback when removed."
Fitness Tracking
In May 2021, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu reported that the second-generation AirPods Pro would include "updated motion sensors with a focus on fitness tracking," but the report did not provide any further details about the feature.
AirPods Pro are already equipped with a motion-detecting accelerometer, and it's possible that improvements to this sensor would allow for some fitness tracking capabilities, but Apple's exact plans remain to be seen. On a potentially related note, iOS 16 allows the Fitness app to be used on an iPhone without an Apple Watch.
LE Audio Benefits
In 2020, Bluetooth 5.2 was introduced with support for a new LE Audio specification. At least two Apple employees are listed as participants in the development of LE Audio, and Apple is likely to adopt the specification for use in future devices.
LE Audio would be particularly beneficial for AirPods. Below, we've outlined five benefits that LE Audio would have for future AirPods Pro, assuming that source devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac are also upgraded with support for the specification in the future.
Improved audio quality: LE Audio includes a new low-power audio codec called LC3 that provides improved audio quality compared to the classic SBC codec, even at a 50% lower bit rate, according to the Bluetooth SIG.
Longer battery life: With the low-power LC3 audio codec, future AirPods Pro would have longer battery life for audio playback.
Multi-stream audio: LE Audio would enable the transmission of multiple synchronized audio streams between a source device like an iPhone or Mac and the AirPods Pro. This would allow for an individual left and right AirPod to each have its own Bluetooth audio connection with a device supporting LE Audio for improved reliability.
Connect many pairs of AirPods to an iPhone at once: LE Audio would allow for many pairs of AirPods to directly connect to a future iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other device and play audio simultaneously. Apple already has a feature that allows an iPhone or iPad user with AirPods to share audio with another person with AirPods, but the feature does not work with more than two pairs of AirPods.
No switching between iPhone and Mac required: LE Audio would allow AirPods to connect to multiple source devices like an iPhone and Mac simultaneously, eliminating the need to switch the AirPods between devices.
In July, the Bluetooth SIG said it anticipates availability of products with support for LE Audio to ramp up by the end of 2022.
Major Design Changes Unlikely
Back in 2020, Gurman and Wu reported that Apple had tested a more compact design for the new AirPods Pro that would eliminate the stems below the earbuds, similar to Beats Studio Buds. However, more recent rumors suggest that the second-generation AirPods Pro will not have any significant outward-facing design changes.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
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Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Left to right: Apple 30W USB-C charger, Anker Nano 3 30W USB-C charger, Apple 5W USB-A charger
