Apple has reportedly been awarded a patent for a new generation of AirPods featuring biometric sensors and the ability to wear them in either ear. The patent application was originally spotted by 9to5Mac and suggests a symmetric design that allows it to sit comfortably in either ear with sensors that are “configured to be pressed up against a portion of the tragus”. These sensors could help in health monitoring by measuring heart rate among other things, potentially combining with the rest of Apple’s health monitoring ecosystem. While this is a step forward, we’re almost certainly a long way off seeing a consumer version of this product with these particular features – however, the AirPods are almost certainly due a refresh sooner rather than later.
