Apple’s AirPods have been receiving useful updates through software, and it is expected that with the announcement of iOS 18 at WWDC on June 10, they could receive even more health features. The company already offers heart health features with the Apple Watch, mobility features like walking steadiness detection on the iPhone, and safety features such as fall detection and emergency SOS.
Recent rumors suggest that AirPods may soon integrate more sensors in the future, including an EEG for detecting brain activity. Although Apple filed a patent in 2023 showing such a sensor embedded in earbuds, it is yet to be seen if it will be implemented. There were also rumors a few years ago about the AirPods Pro getting a heart rate and body temperature sensor, but this feature has not been realized yet. Other earbuds like the recently released Sennheiser Momentum Sport already offer such features.
Consolidating all this data in one’s workout app without having to wear both a watch and earbuds while working out is genuinely helpful. If AirPods do get these additional health features, it would further Apple’s health ambitions and make them an even more versatile entry point into their wearable line. Even if the patents never become a reality, Apple’s exploration of ways to enhance its wearables from entertainment devices to fully-fledged health tools is commendable.