Back in February, Apple’s over-ear AirPods leaked thanks to an internal product listing spotted at Target. Now we’re hearing about some of the clever features these headphones are expected to include.
As 9To5Mac reports, the so-called AirPods Studio over-ear headphones are thought to take a different approach to the in-ear AirPods in terms of ear detection. Apple has apparently opted for head and neck detection instead for the over-ear version. If the AirPods Studio headphones detect they are around your neck they will pause audio playback, but stay powered on.
We should expect both Active Noise Cancellation for uninterrupted audio enjoyment, as well as a Transparency Mode allowing you to hear what’s going on around you without having to remove the headphones. Pairing the headphones with a macOS or iOS device is also expected to unlock custom equalizer settings to tweak the audio to your liking.
The feature that’s sure to garner the most attention, though, is automatic audio channel switching. It’s thought Apple will allow the headphones to detect which ear they are on and adjust the left and right audio channels accordingly. By doing so, you won’t have to look for the little L and R to make sure you are wearing them the right way around. There is no wrong way to wear them.
Although the Target leak suggested a $399 price tag, more recently a $349 price point has been touted. As for a release date, expect them to launch before the end of the year assuming Apple can get enough of them made to support a launch. We’re also expecting two versions: a premium leather version and lighter, ‘fitness-focused’ model.
