Apple is expected to launch the next generation of its wireless earbuds, AirPods, this year, VentureBeat reports.
Five things to know:
1. The rumor, first reported by DigiTimes, follows ongoing speculation about "AirPods 2." Analysts have speculated what features Apple plans to add to its next generation of AirPods since February 2018, according to VentureBeat.
2. In December 2018, Ming-Chi Kuo — an analyst known for his strong track record of predicting new features in Apple products — speculated that Apple would redesign its AirPods in 2020 to include health features that integrate with the Apple Watch.
3. Apple was recently awarded a patent for wireless earbuds with biometric sensors, potentially with the capability to perform heart rate monitoring and take a wearer's body temperature. While a patent doesn't guarantee Apple will incorporate these ideas into its products, it hints at the company's vision.
4. In an article published Jan. 23, DigiTimes reported that sources in the supply chain industry said Apple plans to release AirPods 2, which will be equipped with health-monitoring features, during the first half of 2019.
5. The DigiTimes report doesn't specify what health-monitoring features AirPods 2 might include, but notes that the "new wireless earbuds with discrete designs to carry health-monitoring functions are expected to receive enthusiastic market responses."