Apple Seemingly Preparing for Devices With Bluetooth 5.2, Which Could Hint at AirPods Pro With LE Audio

Apple appears to be preparing for future devices with Bluetooth 5.2 support, according to a filing in the Bluetooth SIG products database earlier this month. Among other possibilities, this could serve as evidence of future AirPods Pro with LE Audio support.

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Apple's filing references a Bluetooth 5.3 host subsystem that is likely intended for future products. However, in actuality, the filing likely refers to Bluetooth 5.2, as the Bluetooth versions listed in Apple's filings in the database are often one version number higher than the version that ends up being supported on a device, for reasons unclear.

For example, the Beats Studio Buds are listed with Bluetooth 5.3 when they actually support Bluetooth 5.2, according to reviews of the headphones, while many iPhone and iPad models are listed with Bluetooth 5.1 despite supporting Bluetooth 5.0.

With all of that confusion surrounding version numbers aside, Apple adopting Bluetooth 5.2 would be especially beneficial for AirPods, as the specification includes support for LE Audio with several improvements to wireless audio streaming.

LE Audio is part of the low-energy Bluetooth LE standard. According to The Verge, benefits of LE Audio for wireless headphones like AirPods could include improved audio quality, longer battery life, the ability to connect more than two pairs of AirPods to a single iPhone, and the ability for each individual left and right AirPod to have its own Bluetooth connection to an iPhone to prevent desynchronization during audio playback.

In July, the Bluetooth SIG said it anticipates availability of products with support for LE Audio to ramp up by the end of 2022. Apple is expected to launch second-generation AirPods Pro by the end of the year, but it remains to be seen if they support Bluetooth 5.2 or LE Audio. It also remains to be seen if Apple would add LE Audio support to the Beats Studio Buds with a firmware update given those earbuds already support Bluetooth 5.2.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

xyz01 Avatar
36 months ago

This makes me even more nervous to get AirPods Max, which I was planning to do.
I'd wait... They're about two years old now.

I've got a pair, and while they're great they don't support lossless audio (launched after the headphones), they need to migrate to usb c, and they need to get better at switching between devices if you've got a lot of them. At times they just get non-responsive and need to be reset since they won't connect to anything.

And they need a better case,
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spaceboi Scaphandre Avatar
36 months ago

You do realise you can buy an adapter for like $10. I use one with my sennheisers when I forget to charge my AirPods

Then use lightning/usbc?
Yep this is totally convenient on my $1000 phone.



Can't wait for the vanilla iPad to lose it's jack and I gotta start doing this crap with it too.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tgwaste Avatar
36 months ago
we need < 10ms latency.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sparxxx Avatar
36 months ago
just give me spatial audio on apple tv for two simultaneous connected airpods!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spaceboi Scaphandre Avatar
36 months ago
Sigh...all I want is the headphone jack back so I can get lossless hifi...



Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diego.caraballo Avatar
36 months ago

I don't understand...so they'll release the Airpods Pro with bluetooth 5.2 without an iPhone/mac to support the technology?
I'd be very interested in moving to a wireless semi-lossless setup, but if my new macpro/iphone 14 pro aren't compatilbe, that would be idiotic.
This.
I was disappointed that the M2 Air doesn’t came with Bluetooth 5.2.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)