AirPods: LE Audio Could Revolutionize User Experience

As the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) approaches, expectations are high for a significant software update for the AirPods. Among the many potential innovations, the activation of LE Audio could be the most exciting for users.

LE Audio: Major Improvements on the Horizon

If Apple decides to activate LE Audio on its devices, it could bring several notable enhancements. The current AirPods, including the AirPods Max 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4, are already equipped with the necessary hardware to support this technology. However, even if Apple gives the green light to LE Audio, it is unlikely that support for Auracast will be included.

LE Audio promises to improve battery life, reduce latency, standardize audio quality, and enhance the performance of hearing aids. These improvements could transform the user experience of the AirPods, making them more efficient and enjoyable to use on a daily basis.

Expectations for WWDC

This year's WWDC could also see the announcement of a more powerful Siri and a major iOS update planned for this fall. Although hardware announcements are generally reserved for the fall, Apple analyst Mark Gurman has indicated that Apple is working on a new model of AirPods with integrated cameras. These cameras could provide environmental images to Siri, opening up new possibilities for interaction.

The Importance of LE Audio

Despite the appeal of integrated infrared cameras, it is the upgrade of the AirPods with LE Audio that generates the most interest. The current range of AirPods already possesses all the basic hardware for LE Audio; it is now up to Apple to activate this feature via a software update.

Preferred Codec Choices

In an ideal world, Apple would activate LE Audio on its source devices like the iPhone, Mac, and iPad, as well as on receivers like the AirPods. This would allow consumers to switch between AAC and LC3 codecs in the Bluetooth settings of their devices. While Apple favors the AAC Bluetooth codec, optimized for its devices since the launch of the iTunes Store in 2003, this codec is based on older technologies and is power-hungry.

If you have ever connected non-Apple headphones to an Apple source device, you have likely noticed that the battery of the headphones drains more quickly. In this context, having the option to enable LC3 in the Bluetooth settings of Apple devices would make a significant difference. Users could enjoy audio quality comparable to that of the AAC codec, with ultra-low latency and efficient power consumption.

Power Consumption and Audio Quality

Apple users often connect non-Apple headphones and hearing devices to their Macs, iPads, or iPhones. The power consumption of these third-party headphones when streaming in AAC is not optimized like it is with Apple’s AirPods, which can lead to rapid battery drain.

Conversely, for AirPods users with third-party tablets or computers, enabling the LC3 codec would provide improved audio quality, ultra-low latency, and more stable connections. While the AAC codec is widely adopted, Apple’s audio signal encoding is of much higher quality and more reliable than that of other manufacturers.

Potential Limitations of Auracast

Due to Apple's tendency to maintain a closed ecosystem, it is possible that Apple may choose to omit certain features of LE Audio and retain proprietary alternatives within its ecosystem. I have had several conversations with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the organization that oversees the development of Bluetooth technologies. What has always struck me after these discussions is that it is up to manufacturers to decide which Bluetooth features are implemented in a Bluetooth-compatible device.

Thus, even if Apple activated LE Audio on its devices, it might choose to omit certain features, such as Auracast. Instead, Apple would keep its exclusive audio sharing feature for AirPods and Beats users. Apple devices already use Bluetooth Low Energy radio for proximity detection and audio synchronization during audio sharing.

Over time, as the company becomes a network of interconnected devices, Apple has been more open to adopting standardized technological features, even if it has been done reluctantly. Encrypted RCS messages and universal USB-C ports have become the norm for manufacturers and ecosystems, and over time, Apple has accepted them. Hopefully, LE Audio will be next on the list.