Mike Peterson
A pair of model numbers recently discovered in multiple international regulatory filings hinted at a next-generation Beats headphone, but new information suggests the device may actually be related to an existing product that's already in circulation.
In April, the FCC approved what appeared to be new Apple earphone models, A2453 and A2454, which suggested that an update to Powerbeats Pro was on the way. Similar filings saw approval in Malaysia and South Korea.
However, new evidence suggests that the model numbers reference a minor internal update that will be launched — or has launched — without an announcement. Specifically, Apple's Declarations of Conformity for the European Union already list the A2453/A2454 model numbers as current products.
Their listing on Apple's webpage indicates that the company views the new model numbers — which individually refer to the right and left earbuds — as a current-generation product. Further, illustrations supplied with previous filings reveal an unaltered Powerbeats Pro design, the sole modification being a switch to A2453 and A2454 on the units' regulatory declarations labels.
MacRumors reported the change to Apple's regulatory database on Thursday.
While it's currently unknown what changes the new models introduce, it is likely that there aren't any major updates to public-facing specifications.
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10 Comments
I have had the PowerBeat Pro since they first came out. There has been no firmware updates while the AirPods have had a few. The only reason I'm saying that because I have recently had Audio dropouts when I have gone jogging. This is from my Apple Watch 5 to my PowerBeats. Audio should not dropout from only 1 1/2 to 2 feet.
I love my pair. Excellent sound. The only issues I've had is audio dropping from just one ear (happens about 1x a month). To resolve, I place them back in the case and cycle bluetooth off/on on my iphone. My only other issue is that the volume should be able to increase, about 10-20% louder.
Cook has been great for shareholder but is Apple going to release anything groundbreaking? Phone, watch, computers, services, me too speakers (I know a Fortune 500 company in its own right ߥᩮ They will lull us to death with incremental and boring updates. Cook keeps giving us a faster horse (look it up). Time for the board to at least bring on someone who can explore new products and ideas. You can only ride old ideas so long before someone else comes along and displaces you. I’ll give him credit that even Jeff Bezos is planning for that day at Amazon and looking to do something in space exploration. What is Cook going to do? Give us another 13” MBP that is a few clock cycles faster? A 5th and 6th camera on a phone? A watch that shows the time for 24 hours before a recharge? A map feature Google has already come up with but give it a fancy name and marketing plan? Ooh, maybe a car? Oh wait so much for that. Maybe another docudrama about animals in Africa? The more money they have the less vision it produces. Somewhere there are two kids in a garage with a great idea that is going to change the world while Cook lunches with the politician of the day, says we love privacy and gives another snooze worthy commencement address filled with platitudes and changes iPhone 16 from the iPhone 4 look to the iPhone 6 look (again).