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There is a looming battle of wireless earphones and Apple will benefit from it either way. The iPhone maker has just released of the AirPods 2 when reports unearthed details about an upcoming Beats Powerbeats refresh that is absolutely wireless by design.
As of this writing, the AirPods 2 is already available in stores and through Apple’s website. One of the biggest improvements in the new AirPods is it is powered by the new Apple H1 chip specifically designed for headphones.
It makes the voice-activated functions available on the earphone and users can now summon Siri even though their iPhones or iPads are not within their reach. AirPods 2’s H1 chip also promises faster performance when switching from one listening device to another as well as when connecting to phone calls.
The introduction of H1 chip is now likely going to be an annual tradition for the AirPods products. This might also be one of AirPods 2’s distinct advantages over the expected wireless Powerbeats Pro.
Less than a week since the AirPods 2 was released in stores, 9To5Mac found files in the iOS 12.2 software update that confirmed the release of a wireless Powerbeats Pro. Its design mostly takes after its predecessor, Powerbeats3, but Apple’s subsidiary has improved it by making it a real wireless earphone — meaning no cord at all. However, it has an over-the-air clip, which makes sense because this brand is primarily advertised as a workout companion.
The H1 chip is most likely going to be exclusive to the AirPods 2. But that does not necessarily mean the Powerbeats Pro will not have Siri-enabled features.
Other details about the Powerbeats Pro are still under wraps. But tech fans can assume that it will be announced and released soon considering that iOS 12.2 was developed to be compatible with the AirPods 2 counterpart. With that, some Apple fans might want to wait a little while before purchasing the AirPods 2 and see which of the two devices are worth buying.
