Wireless AirPods Charging Case Expected Soon, but AirPods 2 May Not Launch Until Fall

Tuesday February 12, 2019 5:27 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
OnLeaks' Steve Hemmerstoffer today tweeted that the AirPods wireless charging case will be ready to launch sometime soon, but the actual ‌AirPods‌ 2 with "Hey, Siri" funtionality may be delayed to the fall.

OnLeaks itself casts some doubt on this rumor, by stating up front that the news was gained from a "new and yet unconfirmed," but seemingly reliable source. Hemmerstoffer appears to be most certain about the wireless charging case launching soon and being shipped with the first-generation ‌AirPods‌.


Most rumors about ‌AirPods‌ 2 have pointed toward an early 2019 launch for the new wireless earphones, so definitely take this new report with a grain of salt. Just this morning, a sketchy report from Greek tech news site iphonehellas.gr claimed the new iPads, ‌AirPods‌ 2, and AirPower are all set to launch on March 29. Yesterday, DigiTimes reiterated previous rumors that stated Apple will release ‌AirPods‌ 2 in the first half of the year.

When they do launch, OnLeaks says the ‌AirPods‌ 2 will come in new colors, and yesterday rumor site MySmartPrice claimed that the new headphones will come in black and white. Beyond ‌AirPods‌ 2 and their new "Hey, ‌Siri‌" functionality, Apple is believed to already be working on the third-generation ‌AirPods‌, which are rumored to have some form of water resistance.

Hemmerstoffer and OnLeaks have a previous track record of sourcing information from Apple's supply chain, as well as the supply chains of other smartphone manufacturers. For example, Hemmerstoffer shared renders of the 2018 iPad Pro with accurate depictions of the tablet's redesign one month before the device was revealed by Apple.

Related Roundup: AirPods 2
Tags: OnLeaks, AirPods Guide
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
[ 54 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
AngerDanger
12 months ago

Thus, I can't vouch these at 100%...- New wireless charging #AirPods ('https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirPods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw') Case to be launched soon BUT shipped with current AirPods- Brand new AirPods + new color(s) likely unveiled this fall pic.twitter.com/eNYom3Xys6 ('https://t.co/eNYom3Xys6')

Man, I can already imagine the wide array of color option Apple provides us with! :)



Rating: 23 Votes
Avatar
ubestbsteppin
12 months ago
This rumor certainly sounds more Apple-like. Release the charging case now so current Airpod owners buy it up and hold the Airpods 2 for a few months to not cannibalize charging case sales.
Rating: 15 Votes
Avatar
Bdub12
12 months ago
And I get to wait another 6 months to buy AirPods. Sigh.
Rating: 12 Votes
Avatar
newyorksole
12 months ago
Wait wait wait I just literally read an article on here that said “AirPods 2 March 29th?”

And now a new article saying “Fall”.

Lmaooo damn... What is it?!
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
I7guy
12 months ago
This is what happens when rumors collide.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
peterh988
12 months ago
Just give me some news about an iMac, dammit! :)
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Shaggymax
12 months ago
Can i just sign up for an email notification the day they launch...
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
recoil80
12 months ago
I'd prefer the other way around, but it makes more sense to launch AirPower first and since AirPods are still selling like hotcakes there is no rush for version 2.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
kiranmk2
12 months ago
Seems like the older rumours may be accurate.

AirPods 1.5 with Hey Siri feature and wireless charging case as only new features - early 2019
Airpods 2.0 with waterproofing and health monitoring features - late 2019/early 2020

Somehow these rumours seem to have merged so that the Airpods originally aimed at late 2018/early 2019 became known as Airpods 2 and people assumed they were the full on second generation rather than just the tweaked 1.5s.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
cocky jeremy
12 months ago
If I make a guess will you make an article for me too? :)
Rating: 2 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]