A report has come out claiming that Apple intends to release the AirPods 2 in the first half of 2019, with new biometric sensors to support health-monitoring.
The report, from DigiTimes, is the first supply chain report to support the notion of adding health features to AirPods, which follows Apple’s new health-focused strategy.
Bloomberg previously reported that high-end AirPods would arrive in early 2019, but state any specifics beyond saying the AirPods would be waterproof, have improved Bluetooth, and making an allusion to Apple experimenting with biometric sensors for AirPods.
Apple has filed patents in July and March 2018 for biometric sensors which would allow the AirPods 2 to take on fitness tracking capabilities.
Reportedly, these sensors could allow the AirPods to measure stroke volume, which when combined with heart rate would allow the AirPods to calculate cardiac output.
Many believe that the hold-up of the long-promised AirPods wireless charging case is what is delaying a release of the AirPods 2.
Leading many to speculate that the next iteration of the AirPods would include a wireless case as a bundle.
Apple has not made any official statement on the release date or pricing of the AirPods 2.
