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The new AirPods were announced this morning in a company press release , a break from Apple's standard pomp and circumstance surrounding its event-based product launches . CEO Tim Cook teased the earbuds on Twitter, dropping a photo the brand's fans have been waiting for since last fall when the big iPhone announcement came and went without an update.
pic.twitter.com/x3OGOekxc0 - Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 20, 2019
What's New With AirPods
The new AirPods look just like the original version (and they'll keep the standard AirPod name), with sleek white enameled packaging and those now-ubiquitous tips.
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The big updates come with the new H1 chip, which Apple designed specifically for headphones. The company claims the chip will make the new units even more efficient, with faster connection, longer talk time (50 percent more, to be exact), and the ability to cue up your phone's AI assistant just by saying "hey Siri," to take care of basic tasks like changing songs and asking for directions.
That extra power means you'll be able to switch between Apple devices "seamlessly" to listen to music (although it's unclear whether or not you'll be able to stay connected to multiple devices at once, la Fitbit's Flyer headphones).
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Apples New AirPods Are Finally Here
For those of us who have fully embraced the cord-free life since Apple introduced wireless charging in 2017, the company included a new wireless charging case, which works using the same Qi charging standards as the iPhones. Don't fret if you already have AirPods and don't want to upgrade the whole package-you can order one of the wireless charging cases on its own.
You can now order the new AirPods with the wireless charging case for $199, while the standard case comes for the same price as the previous generation at $159. A standalone wireless case will run you $79, and all types of cases can be customized with a personalized engraving for free when you get the gear on Apple's site. All of the products hit Apple's physical retail locations next week.
But that's not the only new gear available for active Apple addicts. If you can't workout without your trusty Apple Watch strapped to your wrist, the company just dropped an updated line of sport bands for spring, including a set from the Nike+ collection.