AirPods were a revolution, so much so that today it is rare for a person to have an iPhone and not AirPods as headphones. a wide range and prices that are recently touching historic lowsmany are already thinking about when AirPods 4 or even AirPods Pro 3 will arrive. One of the supports we can use to know what these next AirPods will be like are the patents filed by Apple.
And a patent is an official document from the Cupertino company that records exact and detailed functionalities. Over the last few years, Apple has been registering different technologies and we want to review them to dream of perfect AirPods. Spoiler: some of the patents are really crazy.
AirPods case with touch screen
We start with the first patent presented by Apple in 2023. It shows how AirPods Pro could become a “mini iPod”. On its screen you could control song progress, turn volume up and down… According to the patents, there would also be certain features and widgets, such as the weather or an Apple TV remote. It would be almost like having the playback functions of the Apple Watch, but right in the AirPods case.
Volume control through head movements and gestures
This patent has become partly a reality with the new features of the AirPods that come with iOS 18. And in a very short time we will be able to answer calls by nodding or not answering them by making the gesture of “no” with the head. patentalso added volume controls, which have not yet arrived. But it is a good example that patents can become reality.
Bone conduction audio on AirPods Max
The AirPods Max have not been updated for quite a few years, and while we wait for the AirPods Max 2, Apple has been registering various patents. One of them was registered in November 2022 and consists of adding bone conduction transducers to improve both privacy and audio functionality. The Bone conduction sends sound through vibrations directly to our skullso we could listen to music without the people around us hearing it.
Security features for AirPods Pro
A patent Also from 2022, it describes how AirPods Pro can detect surrounding objects and analyze the speed at which we move. In this way, If it senses danger, it would pause the music or lower the volume to alert us. The patent presents an intelligent system that would be integrated with applications for walking or running and thus increase safety when we go out to do sports in urban environments.
A sleeping mask with AirPods
This is one of the patents craziest that Apple has ever recorded. The concept would be that of a mask that would cover the eyes and connect with the AirPods to monitor eye and brain activity. This would allow better sleep tracking. Apple is reportedly planning to integrate this with the Mindfulness app to help you relax and sleep better, in a combination of darkness and programmed sounds. The fabric, in fact, could provide soft lights. It would be like a kind of Apple Vision Pro, but in a much thinner, lighter version and with a few mini-LEDs under the fabric.
AirPods case could be able to charge the Apple Watch
Something similar happens with the Apple Watch charger, which allows you to charge AirPods. Apple’s patent imagines that you can Place your Apple Watch on the AirPods case to begin charging.. A kind of reverse charging for “emergency” situations in which you need to have battery in your Apple Watch.
Replaceable AirPods mesh
Although cleaning AirPods is relatively easy, Apple thinks of some solutions to make hygiene and wear even easier for us. The AirPods Max already have meshes with magnets that make it easier to replace them. A patent Apple’s April 2021 update also attempts to bring this to the smaller AirPods, thus covering the speakers.
AirPods capable of reading minds
Yes, it sounds like science fiction. A patent July 2023 details that AirPods would have electrodes for capture signals, including electroencephalographyelectromyography and electrooculography. With these technologies, they could measure brain signals to analyze stress levels.
Monitoring bruxism with AirPods
Other patent related to health, in this case dental. In 2022, Apple managed to make AirPods capable monitor teeth grindingknown as bruxism. This pathology is related to stress and, if left untreated, could cause serious dental problems and headaches.
Motion sensors in AirPods would detect the slight movement of the jaw and alert us through the Health app. our tendency to bruxism. Without a doubt, one of the functionalities that would have the greatest impact on society in general.
EarID: an ear identifier for AirPods
Within Apple we have the technology of Touch ID, Face ID and Optic ID. One more patent would be able to analyze the internal morphology of our ear to recognize ourselvesSomething similar already happens with the adaptive equalizer, but in this case it would be to authenticate the user and, in case of theft, not allow the use of the AirPods.
Integrated cameras for better spatial audio
A recent patent would add cameras to AirPods to improve spatial audio and even make gestures without having to touch themThe cameras would identify where we are, as a kind of spatial positioning, in order to adjust the audio of the movies and music we are listening to.
The new AirPods 4 models may be presented this year, while the AirPods Pro 3 may be delayed until 2025On the other hand, the AirPods Max are the ones that most urgently need a renewal, but being a less priority product, their launch date is uncertain between the end of this year and all of 2025.
Cover image | AppleHub