AirPods’ wireless charging case rumoured to charge the earbuds to full in just 15 minutes

There’s a rumour going around it wouldn’t take too long to charge the AirPods with its wireless charging case. According to Twitter leaker Max Weinbach, the wireless charging case can get your AirPods from zero to 100% in just 15 minutes. Right now, the AirPods can get three hours of use with a 15-minute charge so this leap would be significant. The tradeoff supposedly is the case will be thicker and heavier so it can fit the Qi coils.  It’ll supposedly be slightly longer in one dimension. As previously rumoured, it’ll reportedly come within the next few months. 9to5Mac warns that Weinbach doesn’t have a proven record yet when it comes to leaks, so these claims must be taken with a grain of salt.

AirPods 2 to retain the looks of the original

The AirPods second iteration is expected to arrive soon. New details have been leaked about the Bluetooth earbuds. The AirPods 2 are rumoured to be carrying the same design as the original AirPods. What's being improved is the bass response as well as the addition of more health-related tech (like heart rate sensor). Its battery life is expected to be roughly the same. It would supposedly also get a new coating for better grip and would cost US$200 instead of $150.

Source: GSMArena

Apple AirPods can act like basic hearing aids with this feature

CNBC

Apple has prided itself in being able to integrate accessibility features into its products. One hidden feature available in AirPods will turn these accessories into a basic hearing aid. Called Live Listen, the feature uses the mic on your iPhone to pick up what’s being said around you and then feeds the audio right into your AirPods. So, you can place your iPhone near the person you’re talking to and catch what they’re saying easily. 

You can access Live Listen through the settings on your iPhone. Head to Control Center and then Customize Controls. Tap on the green + button next to Hearing and add this to your control center list. To use it, swipe down from the top-right of the screen while in the home screen on an iPhone X or newer or swipe from the bottom on older iPhones to get to the ear icon. Make sure you’re wearing your AirPods. From there, tap on the Live Listen option. 

Source: CNBC

Apple AirPods 2 undergoes Bluetooth certification

We may or may not be seeing the second iteration of Apple’s AirPods soon. The accessory is currently undergoing certification by the Bluetooth SIG, according to a declaration form published online. It’ll reportedly come with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and is listed under model numbers A2031 and A2032. With this certification process happening, it’s usually a sign that the device launch is upon us. Other trademark filings have also unveiled possible new features of the AirPods 2. Filings in Europe and Hong Kong suggest we’re going to get things like its own health tracking sensor. According to MySmartPrice, “It also covers monitors, speakers and displays of measuring, displaying, tracking, reporting, monitoring, storing, and transmitting biometric data, heart rate, body movement, and calories burned." We won’t be surprised though if the AirPods 2 gets these feature. With Apple honing in on its health- and fitness-related features, it makes sense it brings these to more of its devices.