AirPods 2: Here’s Every New Feature You Can Expect

Something interesting happened at the start of the Apple event on September 12, 2018. The sharp-eyed viewers were watching the jokey intro video when they noticed that the main character (in a Mission: Impossible-like sequence) was wearing AirPods that didn't act like normal AirPods.. In fact, the differences were so obvious that many suspected Apple was quietly showing off brand new features for the second generation AirPods – commonly dubbed AirPods 2.

Apple hasn't made an official announcement about AirPods 2 yet, but we do have a lot of clues about the new features they will offer, stemming from the intro video above and other reliable sources. Here are all the big changes you can look forward to! Continue reading to learn about every new AirPods 2 feature you can expect.

5 Wireless Charging

This update is practically guaranteed, because Apple showed off a wireless charging case along with AirPower, the wireless charging mat Apple teased last year. Now, the AirPower has vanished from sight – the project has either been cancelled or pushed far off to an unknown date. But that's no reason to believe that the wireless AirPod charging case has also disappeared.

4 Better Water Resistance

A prominent part of Apple's teaser video included a woman running through water while wearing her headphones. The latest Apple events have taken a significant amount of time to point out the water resistant features of the iPhone XS and XS Max, so it just makes sense that the AirPods 2 would have similar water resistance capabilities. That doesn't mean you'll be able to dive headlong into water (well, it may possible, but please don't try it at home either way), but I think we can safely expect extra rain, sweat, and "oops-I-dropped-one-in-the-toilet" protection.

3 Hands Free Siri

Another fun video intro feature: The protagonist talks to Siri via her AirPods, but she does it without pushing any buttons. If you have current-gen AirPods, you know you have to reach up and tap an AirPod to activate Siri's listening mode. This has both upsides and downsides: You had the satisfaction of knowing that Siri wasn't always listening to you while wearing AirPods, but you did have to keep tapping your ear like a bodyguard in a bad political film.

It looks like Apple has decided that simple is better: The second generation AirPods will apparently have hands free Siri communication. Siri will simply wake up when the key phrase is said (Hey, Siri).

Whether or not you actually need another Apple device around for Siri functionality remains to be seen, but it's still likely.

2 W2 Chip with Better Battery Life

The first AirPods had W1 chips, but there's also a W2 chip, introduced for the Apple Watch Series 3. It would be very strange if Apple decided to release a new version of the AirPods without upgrading to the W2 chip. There's also a very good reason to consider making this change: One of the best benefits of the W2 is that it is much more efficient than the W1. That means less power is used, which could lead to the AirPods getting a significant bump in battery life, which would give everyone a good reason to upgrade.

Before you ask – yes, there is also a W3 chip from the latest Apple Watch. However, the W2 chip seems more likely to hit the spot between better performance and a livable price range.

1 Noise Cancellation

This feature is less certain, but there are plenty of good reasons to bet on it. First, we've seen earbud noise cancellation before, from brands like Samsung and even Beats – so Apple should be eyeing this technology as an ideal upgrade for the AirPods. Rumors have even touched on noise cancellation being discussed among Apple employees with the same weight as water resistance.

But also keep in mind that noise cancellation could help solve one of the most common complaints about the AirPods – that they suffer from leakage and tend to slip from the ear. It's very difficult to make one earbud shape that fits every human ear (well, impossible), but Apple could go a long way toward solving leakage issues by adding noise cancellation.

? Release Date

You may have to wait a while for the AirPods 2. According to Blayne Curtis, reporter with Barclays, the AirPods 2 probably won't be available until late 2019. This has become even more likely as Apple didn't even mention them at any of its latest events. Get your waiting shoes on, folks!