A new patent suggests that the next-generation Apple AirPods and AirPods Max headphones may be able to identify different earbuds tips and adjust the audio accordingly. The patent is titled “Identification of Cushioning Members in Personal Audio Devices”.
The patent mentions a unique tag system for different earbud tips sizes and headphone cushions. Apple AirPods and AirPods Max headphones in future may be equipped with a special tag sensor. This will enable the device to read these tags and automatically change the audio settings of the earbuds and headphones.
“When the cushioning member is attached to the earpiece, the identification tag is brought into proximity with a tag sensor in the earpiece and the earpiece can read the identification tag to determine identification data for the cushioning member,” reads the patent.
Apple is also looking for ways to make these tags passive i.e. they do not require power. It may use passive NFC tags or some kind of miniature RFID tags for the same. But nothing is clear as of yet.
How effective and helpful the feature will be that only time will tell. As people rarely change eartips on their earphones. But right now it seems that the Cupertino-based company is looking to bring a whole new set of branded accessories- branded eartips and branded headphones cushions. Possible logic? Purely on use cases- while one needs tighter fit eartips during workouts and physical activity, the need is not at all the same when listening to music laying on a couch.