Roundup: AirPower Removed From AirPods Page, AirPods 3 Possibly 2020, iOS 12.2 Arrives Next Week, and More

by

Apple today unveiled second-generation AirPods with a new H1 chip that enables hands-free Siri and up to an extra hour of talk time, and there are a handful of details worth mentioning surrounding the announcement.

appleairpower

Apple removed this AirPower image from its AirPods page today

Five thoughts:

  • The new AirPods require iOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2, or macOS 10.14.4 and later, which are all currently in beta testing. With the new AirPods arriving to customers early next week, this means the software updates should be publicly released on or around March 25 event day.

  • Apple removed an image of its ‌AirPower‌ wireless charging mat from its AirPods page today. However, many sources believe the AirPower is coming soon. Apple announced new iPads on Monday, new iMacs on Tuesday, and new AirPods on Wednesday, so it is possible the ‌AirPower‌ could follow on Thursday or Friday, but no reliable rumors have indicated that will be the case.

  • Apple has discontinued the original AirPods. The new lineup includes the second-generation AirPods paired with either a wired charging case for $159 or with a wireless charging case for $199. The wireless case is also sold separately for $79 and is compatible with the original AirPods.

  • According to Mark Gurman, these AirPods were initially planned to go on sale last year. As he has previously reported, Gurman says Apple is working on a subsequent pair of AirPods with noise cancellation and water resistance that were originally planned for release later this year, but he now speculates that they could arrive in 2020.

  • MacRumors received a tip earlier this month claiming that Apple would announce new iPads, iMacs, and iPods on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, and while most of this information proved to be accurate, new AirPods ended up arriving on Wednesday instead of a new iPod touch. Multiple sources still expect a new iPod touch, but announcement timing is unclear.

For more details about the new AirPods, read our earlier coverage of the announcement.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Tag: AirPower Guide
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 12

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Read Full Article • 148 comments
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Read Full Article
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
Read Full Article • 154 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Read Full Article • 37 comments
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...
Read Full Article • 107 comments

Top Rated Comments

oneMadRssn Avatar
oneMadRssn
90 months ago
If the new AirPods look the same as the old AirPods, how are people with old AirPods supposed to know that I'm better than them when I buy the new AirPods?
Score: 60 Votes (Like | Disagree)
immortalwind Avatar
immortalwind
90 months ago
So much hype for a charger.. It's just a charger you guys!!
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
AngerDanger
90 months ago


* Apple removed an image of its AirPower wireless charging mat from its AirPods page ('https://www.apple.com/airpods/') today. However, many sources believe the AirPower is coming soon. Apple announced new iPads on Monday, new iMacs on Tuesday, and new AirPods on Wednesday, so it is possible the AirPowercould follow on Thursday or Friday, but no reliable rumors have indicated that will be the case.

To me, this can only mean one thing: AirPower is coming but looks very different from original depictions.



It's the only way they could get it to work.

Attachment Image
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Oohara Avatar
Oohara
90 months ago
They should just change the name to AirUnicorn.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
69Mustang
90 months ago
If the new AirPods look the same as the old AirPods, how are people with old AirPods supposed to know that I'm better than them when I buy the new AirPods?
Do what I do. Walk around in buttless chaps and roller skates. Don't forget to hold your head high. That really sells the superiority aspects of the outfit.:p:D
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
millerlite Avatar
millerlite
90 months ago
AirPower sucks. It's worse than a wired charger. How? Because you can't pick up your phone/air pods/watch without the device's stop getting a charge. When I pick up a phone that's being charged with a wired charger, as long as I don't unplug it, it keeps charging. I can use my phone in bed overnight and it won't stop charging when I do so.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments