https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/02/apple-preps-new-airpods-one-with-hands-free-siri-one-water-resistant/

One of the smallest members of Apple's product lineup may get a useful update this year. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is working on new models of its AirPod wireless earbuds. One could debut later this year with an updated wireless chip and another with a water-resistant design may come out in 2019.

AirPods arrived in 2016 alongside the iPhone 7 as a solution to the smartphone's lack of headphone jack. The W1 chip inside the AirPods helps it connect almost immediately to a user's Apple products. According to the report, Apple is developing a new model with a new wireless chip that helps it better manage Bluetooth connections. It's unclear if this new chip will be a variation of the W2 chip, which debuted with the Apple Watch Series 3 last year, or an entirely new one.