The successor to Apple’s first-generation Powerbeats Pro True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headset could come with new health monitoring features. According to multiple reports, the Cupertino-based company released the iOS 18 release client (RC) to beta testers on Monday following its “It’s Glowtime” hardware launch event. New code in Apple’s software update suggests that new sensors will be integrated into the company’s future wireless audio products, such as the AirPods Pro (3rd generation) models, which are expected to launch in 2025.
Hints of a new wireless headset with a heart rate sensor were spotted by 9to5Mac in iOS 18 RC, which was released on Monday, a week before the official release. The string reportedly includes instructions asking users to wear both headphones while exercising so that the heart rate monitoring feature sends relevant information to the Apple Health app. According to the publication, users may also be able to change this feature in the Bluetooth Settings section of the third-generation AirPods Pro.
Meanwhile, MacRumors reports that the Powerbeats Pro 2 will also reportedly support the same feature, based on details discovered in the latest iOS 18 RC. It may also support sharing heart rate information with fitness equipment like treadmills, although users will need to use both headphones for the feature to work.
The software also notes that the ability to measure heart rate while wearing the Powerbeats Pro 2 is only available when the user begins exercising. This can be used to extend the battery life of your wireless headset.
Apple has not yet announced plans for a second-generation successor to the AirPods Pro, but has previously revealed that the Powerbeats Pro 2 will launch in 2025. At an event on Monday, the company introduced the AirPods 4 TWS headset in two versions. One has active noise cancellation (ANC), the other is a cheaper version without it.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
