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Which generation of AirPods will add independent cellular connectivity?

  • 4th Gen

    Votes: 1 8.3%
  • 5th Gen

    Votes: 3 25.0%
  • 6th Gen

    Votes: 1 8.3%
  • 7th Gen

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 8th Gen

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 9th Gen

    Votes: 1 8.3%
  • AirPodsX

    Votes: 6 50.0%

  • Total voters
    12

bobob

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 11, 2008
3,437
2,520
Just as the Apple Watch first gained LTE cellular connectivity in its 3rd generation, which generation of AirPods will be the first to feature cellular capability?

I am looking forward to my future AirPods featuring:

- cellular capability​
- health sensors (pulse/ECG/body temperature)​
- on-board realtime transcription​
- on-board realtime translation​
- larger internal storage - 256GB base​
- ability to safely recharge while wearing​
- reduced size​
- AirPods App Store​
- Apple Pay​
- aural augmented reality​
- water-resistant to IP68 / 50 metres​
- AirPodsOS​
- workout tracking​

Personally, I'm predicting health sensors (pulse/ECG/body temperature) in 4th gen AirPods and then cellular capabilty in 5th gen AirPods.


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For those interested in guessing which future generations of Apple AirPods will debut which features, here's a quick form to post your predictions:

1st Gen: Original Airpods
2nd Gen: Wireless charging
3rd Gen: Active noise cancellation
4th Gen: ?
5th Gen: ?
6th Gen: ?
7th Gen: ?
8th Gen: ?
9th Gen: ?
AirPodsX: ?
 
Last edited:

Soybomb

macrumors member
Sep 14, 2019
54
47
I hope it happens soon just for all The battery and radiation threads. But I think thats a good way off, cellular Is too much of a battery hog and Siri isn’t good enough to be your only ui.
 

j0nblayz

macrumors 6502
Jul 21, 2007
282
120
Hmmm interesting idea. I don’t see a big value having cellular coverage/wifi for headphones, but some ideas for uses:

1. use without watch or phone, maybe for at the gym, use Siri to control headphone.

2. find my usage, track it if lost

3. wireless updates

still those above usage wouldn’t justify impacting the battery or increasing the headphone size. But who knows what the future holds, maybe phones will be replaced with some type of headphones with AR glasses
 

bobob

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 11, 2008
3,437
2,520
Has no one seen the movie Her?

image.jpg


Wireless earbuds will become an independent computer platform at some point in the future.

Cellular connected AirPods will be one of the steps on the path to its implementation.

I will be shocked if Apple doesn't sell cellular Airpods by 2025.
 

bobob

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 11, 2008
3,437
2,520
I forgot to add one of the biggest upcoming milestone AirPods features:

AirPodsOS

Beyond its obvious accessibility benefit for visually limited users, AirPodsOS will be the backbone of this Siri voice navigated system supported by the rise of Apple's own H-series chip.

 
Last edited:

gsmornot

macrumors 68040
Sep 29, 2014
3,645
3,798
If they do this and I buy the plan, I would have a plan for my phone, watch, and AirPods. It will be like $100 a month just for me to walk around not making calls. Ha.
 

Paco II

macrumors 68020
Sep 13, 2009
2,288
706
My old Bragi Dash Pro offered real-time translation and it was pretty neat. Rarely used it but neat nonetheless. And you can swim with them. They were far ahead of their time, and sadly the company is no more.


I forgot to add one of the biggest upcoming milestone AirPods features:

AirPodsOS

Beyond its obvious accessibility benefit for visually limited users, AirPodsOS will be the backbone of this Siri voice navigated system supported by the rise of Apple's own H-series chip.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am looking forward to my future AirPods featuring:​
- cellular capability​
- health sensors (pulse/ECG/body temperature)​
- on-board realtime transcription​
- on-board realtime translation​
- larger internal storage - 256GB base​
- ability to safely recharge while wearing​
- reduced size​
- AirPods App Store​
- Apple Pay​
- aural augmented reality​
- water-resistant to IP68 / 50 metres​
 

Itinj24

Contributor
Nov 8, 2017
4,550
2,614
New York
At the very least, body temperature with a high/low warning threshold would be a very nice addition. You can avoid a lot of heat and cold injuries/casualties this way
 

Closingracer

macrumors 601
Jul 13, 2010
4,317
1,849
I wasn't sure either at first, but "Apple App Store", "Apple Pay" and "ability to safely recharge while wearing" clearly gave it away as such.:p

I am NOT putting my ear next to a NFC reader TF? That looks really stupid. Even more then the OG AirPods ever looked
 
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