The first generation Apple AirPods Pro went on sale in October 2019, and the second generation of these earbuds seems to be coming soon. According to well-known Apple product expert and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, mass production of AirPods Pro 2 will begin in the second half of 2022.

AirPods Pro / Image Source: Apple

As Kuo said on Twitter, the release of new items will begin in the second half of the year – the headphones will be produced in Vietnam. This indirectly indicates Apple’s intention to continue to reduce dependence on Chinese manufacturing facilities. Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the company informed some suppliers about the gradual transfer of production to Vietnam and India.

Kuo said Apple’s decision to move production of the AirPods Pro 2 to Vietnam may be due to the fact that the supply chain for the model is not too complicated, and the manufacturing environment in Vietnam is more favorable than in China. AirPods Pro are known to be released in both China and Vietnam now, but Kuo is confident that the focus of production projects this year will increasingly shift in favor of Vietnam. At the same time, in the initial phase, test production and improvement of AirPods Pro 2 is likely in China.

As for the capabilities and features of the novelty, Kuo predicts that it will continue to use the proprietary Lightning port for charging. For those who hoped for the advent of USB Type-C, there is nothing to count on yet. Earlier this month, Kuo revealed that Apple is already testing the iPhone 15 with a USB Type-C port. The analyst also predicted that with the transition of the iPhone to USB Type-C, the manufacturer will transfer accessories to it, including AirPods.

Other predicted features include a new form factor, the addition of health monitoring features and sensors that allow the headphones to be used as fitness trackers, and support for lossless audio playback. Apple has previously said that AirPods will one day complement the Apple Watch’s health monitoring system with sensors that will enrich the fitness ecosystem with data.