AirPods 2 release date: Rumours swirl about Apple's updated wireless earphones for iPhones

Leaks have suggested updates to both the earphones and their case

Rumours are beginning to swirl that Apple will imminently release a new version of its AirPods.

The much-loved, small and wireless earphones were first introduced in 2016. Almost since then, discussion has turned to any potential update from Apple, but the company has said very little.

When it introduced its AirPower charging mat, it said it would offer a new version of the box the earphones come in so that they could be charged wirelessly, using the mat. But neither the mat or the new box have arrived, leading many to wonder when an update to the AirPods would actually be revealed.

Now an unconfirmed new rumour suggests that Apple could launch the second version of the AirPods at the end of this month, on 29 March. Spanish blog Applesfera said it had seen an internal Apple note that suggested a new version would be released on that date.

If the AirPods are released at the end of the month, it could be announced at an event the company is rumoured to be planning for 25 March. That event is expected to focus on services – including Apple’s new news offering, as well as potentially revealing its Netflix competitor – but could see the launch of some new hardware, too.

But any update might not actually bring new AirPods, and only the updated case. Numerous leaks have suggested that the Apple will only update the wireless charging case, and that updated versions of the earphones themselves won’t actually arrive until much later this year.

Applesfera said it was not aware of whether the update would bring entirely new AirPods or just a new case.

Previous rumours have suggested that some sort of update could be coming early this year. Usually reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested that new AirPods are expected in the first half of this year, for instance.

Apple’s new charging case is expected to bring no special new features, beyond wireless charging.

The AirPods themselves, however, have been the subject of a whole host of rumours. It has been suggested the new earphones could have better Bluetooth technology, the ability to monitor their owners health and a new material that would allow them to be more easily held.

The new AirPods could also be available in different colours and at a different price, rumours have suggested.