Apple patents new AirPods design for improved immersive sound

Publish date: 2024-05-25
Apple makes tons of great technology, which includes some of the best earbuds on the market. The AirPods pioneered a lot of features that we currently consider staple on midrange true-wireless headphones and earbuds.

That, however, isn’t really a reason to stop trying to innovate. And, as judging by this new patent submission from Apple with the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO), the next AirPods iteration may be focused on immersion.

Immersion is one of those things that differs from person to person. To one, it may mean true noise cancellation, while others are searching for a three-dimensional soundscape. In this case? It is all about taking your actual surroundings into consideration.

A diagram from the patent for the new AirPods.

Now, in theory, this could result in a very unique experience. This means that your favorite song will sound totally different, depending on where you are located. It will feel different at the airport, and then different again at home, or while working out at the gym.

This magic will be enabled through a series of microphones and sensors, and a sound processing chip, which will continuously scan your surroundings. By the description of the technology from the patent, it sounds like that the data they’ve picked up on will be analyzed and then assigned to one out of several different profiles.

This patent, discovered by ItHome, is still just a patent though. These don’t always lead to a new product getting made and are sometimes just a mechanism to reserve an idea for future experimentation. That being said, if Apple announces such an AirPods unit, we’ll definitely let you know. View Full Bio

Stan, also known as Stako, is a smartphone enthusiast who loves exploring the limits of Android customization. His journey with mobile tech began with the Nokia 5110 and evolved with devices like the BlackBerry 9350 Curve and Samsung Galaxy A4. Despite his love for Android, he holds equal respect for Apple, considering the iPhone 4s as a significant milestone in mobile tech. Stan started his writing career early, contributing to MetalWorld, and harbors a passion for creative writing. Beyond smartphones, he's interested in photography, design, composition, and gaming, often preferring solo projects to hone his objective thinking. He's also an avid student of open-source technology and consoles, with a special fondness for the Pebble Watch, Arduboy, and Playdate.

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