Apple is set to debut brand new “water-resistant” AirPods with a handsfree “Hey, Siri” voice command feature in 2019. This report comes from Bloomberg who claims Apple is working on a number of updates for their popular wireless headphones.
The AirPods were first released in 2016, alongside the iPhone 7, which did not feature a headphone port. The new update will allow users to use the “Hey, Siri” command, without having to tap the headphones first, which users currently have to do. They were designed by the same department that developed the HomePod, so it’s not surprising that a voice command feature has been added.
The update will also mean the headphones can “survive splashes of water and rain”, but they do not claim to be entirely waterproof. They have been one of Apple’s most successful products to date and at the end of last year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that shipments would double to an estimated 26.28 million units on a year-over-year basis.
In September, last year, Apple also unveiled a new wireless charging case for the AirPods, but the official release date for these has not yet been revealed. Could they appear during the March event when Apple’s AirPower wireless charging pad is rumored to be unveiled?
Which new feature are you most excited about?
