Could this be the first look at the AirPods Pro 2? "MacRumors has published images purportedly showing the second generation of Apple's premium wireless earphones

However, the site explicitly states that they are from "unestablished and unproven" sources and their accuracy cannot be verified; given that the AirPods Pro 2 is set to launch in Q3 2022, these images may be somewhat accurate

Leaks from unexpected sources have had positive results in the past Most recently, a notch was introduced on the 2021 MacBook Pro In particular, the stem in the bud is in direct contradiction to what Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says we should expect

That report was, of course, a year old, and it is possible that Apple has changed its mind In any case, MacRumors' source (who goes by the name "Xerxes" and claims the image is from an "inside Apple source") is adamant that the stem is here to stay

Indeed, the only real change to the bud itself is the lack of an optical sensor; given that the AirPods 3 have switched from an optical sensor to a skin detection sensor, it is possible that the AirPods Pro 2 will follow the same design path

The main changes are in the charging case, which introduces twin speaker holes and a metal loop for attaching a strap [MacRumors' sources say that the addition of the speaker holes is not for casual listening to music or podcasts from the case itself, but rather for Apple to extend the "Find My" feature to the case and buds independently The speaker is purely to play sound for finding the missing case on the side of the couch, and it is a bit of a mystery why two are needed, unless it is more for symmetry than functionality

The loop for attaching the strap is debatable; Apple has never felt the need for a strap on the AirPods, and while not unwelcome, it would make the case design more crowded and disrupt the minimalist aesthetic

Still, these design changes make the AirPods Pro 2 case harder to lose, and Apple may just be responding to feedback from buyers Tracking lost items has been a focus of sorts for the company since the introduction of AirTags earlier this year, and this may be another step down that road

As such, these images should be treated with some degree of skepticism, but it will be some time before their accuracy becomes clear The AirPods Pro 2 will likely be a 2022 product, especially since Apple just released the third generation of standard AirPods

And when the earbuds do appear, expect them to have the upgrades we've come to expect from the AirPods Pro 2