Apple’s next-gen AirPods may respond to hands-free Siri voice commands

Apple released the first beta of iOS 12.2 to developers yesterday, and it reportedly hints at new features for upcoming AirPods. According to a report by 9to5Mac, a currently hidden setup screen suggests that new AirPods will be able to be configured to respond to "Hey Siri" voice commands without prompting them with a tap of your finger.

The setup screen looks similar to other "Hey Siri" prompts for devices like the iPhone. Reportedly, the setup is the same as well—users configure Siri to respond to their own voices rather than the voices of others. The difference is that this configuration allows AirPods to recognize "Hey Siri" voice commands on their own. With current AirPod models, users must tap on the side of an AirPod before asking anything of Siri, otherwise the AirPods will not listen for the command.

If this feature is indeed coming, it means that new AirPods will be able to hear "Hey Siri" commands without needing to be tapped first. As long as your iPhone is nearby (even if it's in your pocket), you can ask Siri to answer questions and get information for you hands-free.

It could also mean that an updated version of AirPods is indeed on the way. Rumors have been swirling about new AirPods since last year, when it was thought that Apple would release a new model before the 2018 holidays. That didn't happen, and now reports suggest that new AirPods could come in the first half of 2019.

In addition to hands-free Siri recognition, the new AirPods may support wireless charging through an updated charging case. That may end up being an expensive upgrade for the new AirPods, with Apple possibly offering it as a separate accessory. Some reports suggest that the new AirPods may have health-monitoring capabilities, while others say that Apple may make an additional, premium version of AirPods with noise-cancelling features and a water-resistant design.

The release of the new AirPods remains unknown, but it's possible that it will coincide with the public release of iOS 12.2. That may not be imminent as software updates go through numerous beta versions before release. However, Apple has removed features from betas in the past—there's always the possibility that the hands-free "Hey Siri" feature for AirPods won't even make it into the final version of iOS 12.2.