AirPods Pro: The latest rumors point to new colors and water resistance

The memory-foam earphone accessory company Comply has just launched its new SoftCONNECT product, which add eartips to Apple's signature true-wireless earbuds, the AirPods. They may protect against discomfort while wearing these devices - and perhaps even protect against their loss - through their silicone sleeves that attach to each bud while leaving cut-outs for the speaker grilles.

However, the firm may soon end up annoyed to learn that its new product may be unnecessary in the AirPods series' next addition. Should some leaks and rumors prove to be accurate, they will bear a "Pro" moniker, and may distinguish themselves with a refined form-factor. It purportedly involves shorter 'stalks', as well as the in-built tips that Comply might rather they not have.

This theory is based on reports of a new icon discovered in the depths of iOS 13.2, showing an earbud of this shape. Other leaks may support this with live images of what may be a charging case for the same 'new AirPods'. It is wider and more squat compared to the floss-dispenser appearance of that for the original and second-gen buds.

The latest rumor on this subject comes courtesy of the Chinese-language media outlet UDN. However, any potential new content on these "AirPods Pro" is derived from a Google Translate version of the same, and therefore could be misleading. The report appears to intimate that it is informed by sources linked to the "supply chain" for these devices.

Some of the resulting text reads that the Pros "...even will release a variety of colors, including black, white, night green". This, then, could be taken as an indication that the peripherals will come in different colors, which may be the same as some of those of the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, no less. However, the same passage goes on to indicate the scope for as many as 8 new colors for the AirPods Pro. 

The new UDN article can also be interpreted to state that the AirPods Pro could cost as much as US$260 (or about $61 more than the most expensive extant AirPods at present) and may have water resistance. Another article on the subject of these leaks speculates that these new earbuds could gain improved ingress protection, as well as the ability to mix ambient noise into the audio coming through them at need.

This new feature, known as Transparency, is found in the new Beats Solo Pro; therefore, it is somewhat plausible that it may show up in the next wearables made by this group's owner, Apple. The AirPods Pro. should they indeed be in the works, are thought to launch during an event in the course of the OEM's normal release schedule in 2020.

However, it is also just possible that they may appear in time for this year's holiday shopping season. This may be backed up by a new tweet from the respected tipster Ben Geskin, which states that the AirPods Pro will be revealed to selected correspondents "at Apple's local offices" in the week following October 27, 2019.