More details continue to come in on what we might find in future generations of AirPods. DigiTimes reports that sometime in the next few years we will see ambient light sensors in the headphones, according to Asian industry sources. ASE Technology, a supplier from Taiwan, could be responsible for producing that component.
MacRumors has been the first to reflect the news, although for now no one has managed to know the specific use that will be given to those sensors placed in the AirPods. They may replace current optical sensors that allow headphones to pause or resume a playback by taking them out of our ears, although there are more possible applications that make us think.
An opportunity to measure oxygen in the blood from our ears?
The source also reminds us that there are sensors that use light to detect our level of oxygen in the blood, something that thanks to these ambient light sensors could be applied to AirPods. A new generation of those headphones could be integrated with the Health app and record those levels using the blood that runs through our ears.
Precisely, blood oxygen is a value that takes time among the rumors of health functions that we could have in future Apple Watch (there are already light sensors that quantify our heart rate among other things). However, it is possible that Apple has found a way to offer more reliable data on our ear instead of on our wrist.
As always, it’s all about waiting and seeing if the 2021 or 2022 AirPods really become health accessories, too.