Prolific gadget leaker says AirPods 2 might not launch until this fall

Image: Stephen Lam/Getty Images

If you’re waiting for Apple to update AirPods so you can finally buy them and put cable tangles behind you once and for all, you might be holding out until later this year.

According to prolific gadget leaker @OnLeaks, aka Steve Hemmerstoffer, a source told him AirPods 2 won’t be released until this fall. As a stopgap, Apple will reportedly release the wireless charging case shipping with the current generation of AirPods soon.

Apple first announced a version of the AirPods case capable of wireless charging way back in September 2017 alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. 

However, the wireless charging case never shipped. It’s widely believed Apple’s put its release on hold after facing troubles engineering its AirPower wireless charging mat. Launching the case could suggest Apple’s fixed the problems and both products are finally ready for a release.

@OnLeaks has a reliable track record leaking new tech products, however even he’s not sure if the information is accurate this time around.

His “new and yet unconfirmed but seemingly reliable source” also claims AirPods 2 will come in new colors. 

The alleged AirPods 2 release info contrasts with an earlier report from MySmartPrice claiming AirPods 2 would arrive in the spring with improved bass and new outer coating.

The report also says the second-generation AirPods might launch in white and black. Apple currently only sells AirPods in white.

Rumors of AirPods 2 have been floating on the internet for months. Most reports claim AirPods 2 will have a new hands-free mode to activate voice controls with a “Hey Siri” command. It’s also believed new sensors inside of AirPods 2 could support more advanced health-tracking functions.

Released in late 2016, AirPods were initially criticized for looking goofy. The internet was quick to point out how Apple’s true wireless earbuds looked like Oral-B electric toothbrush heads. People also mocked the case for resembling a pack of dental floss with some even going as far to disguise their cases with floss stickers to prevent theft.

But Apple’s having the last laugh. Since launch, AirPods have become a bonafide hit. Anecdotally, I see more and more people wear them. Like iPhones and Apple Watches, Apple doesn’t share information on how many AirPods it’s sold to date. Tech analyst Neil Cybart estimates Apple’s sold “at least 25 million” AirPods.

“This total will likely exceed 50 million people later this year,” says Cybart. “These are massive sales and adoption figures for a two-year old product that has never received an update and rarely goes on sale for less than its $159 selling price.”

With such high demand, one has to wonder: Does Apple even need to update AirPods anytime soon?