Today, the US Patent and Trademark Office has published Apple’s patent application regarding an advanced ultrasonic touch sensor. According to Patently Apple, the patent will apply to the use of ultrasonic technology in AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.
Ultrasonic technology in AirPods
The ultrasonic technology may allow future AirPods Pro and AirPods Max to perform better when wet or while wearing gloves. The current sensors on AirPods struggle to maintain the same performance when in contact with wet conditions. Additionally, the AirPods Pro sensors tend to not work as well when the user is wearing gloves. This improved performance would be helpful to users in winter or for those who may wear gloves while working.