Heart rate measurement could come to Apple AirPods Pro 3

With several hearing aid technologies planned on the occasion of the update of the AirPods Pro 2health is at the heart of Apple's strategy. It even seems that the apple brand wants to continue on this path by preparing new features for the AirPods Pro 3, coming in 2025.

According to the new iOS 18 beta released yesterday, heart rate tracking via headphones is imminent. As reported by a line of code, the measurement would be done from the headphones: “Wear your headphones during your workouts to measure your heart rate and send it to the Apple Health app. Manage this from the Bluetooth settings.”

A still unknown measuring technique

Although it is not specified, Apple could simply equip its AirPods Pro 3 with a dedicated sensor, like the Momentum Sport from Sennheiser or old Jabra neckband headphones.

Alternatively, it would be possible to use transducers with a noise reduction system to perform the measurement using a technique called audio-plethysmography (APG). Requiring a simple software update, this technology would perform the measurement by sending ultrasound to the microphones in the earphones. Since these ultrasounds are modulated by microscopic vibrations of the ear canal created by the heartbeat, a reliable measurement could be obtained.

This technique has been studied for a long time by Google. According to the internet giant, it would offer a good level of precision, without too much impact on battery life.

Health: AirPods join other Apple product categories

Apple's move to integrate health features into its wireless earbuds is not surprising since its other product categories are already well advanced in this area. The Apple Watch comes to mind, which is already capable of measuring body temperature, blood oxygen levels, sleep apnea, and more. The iPhone, in addition to its well-known health features, can protect our vision by reminding us to keep our distance from the screen.

The highly anticipated Powerbeats Pro 2 Cupertino-based Beats could also get a heart rate tracking feature. We'll see you in 2025 to find out how it's measured.