The latest Airpods 2 news to our knowledge comes from the Chinese website Economic Daily News and it combines elements from different previous leaks in new ways.

The best news of all is that we won't have to wait until the Fall, after all. The expectation is that the next AirPods will be announced and released soon.

A Google translation of the article reveals:

However, as Apple is about to launch the wireless charging version of AirPower, the small modified wireless Bluetooth headset AirPods will be paired with the market in the spring.

It goes on with more good news, that the price will be no higher than it is now ($159).

Apple AirPods in a charging case on a wooden surface. New AirPods in a charging case close-up on a wooden table. 

New case, new material, new color

Economic Daily News says that one manufacturer, Inventec, has begun production of a new and different version of AirPods, specifically that the new product has the wireless charging case, for instance.

The article continues:

In terms of design, the new AirPods will also use the same technology as the previous generation of wireless Bluetooth headset to maintain the integrity of the two.

This is the main bit that surprises me so far, to be frank. Because if hands-free Siri is going to happen, and I'm certain it will because it's there in the next version of iOS, it seems to me that some kind of upgrade to the chip inside the AirPods may be needed.

Apple's opening video at its recent keynote features AirPods seemingly showing hands-free activation of Siri.APPLE

If that's not the case, I look forward to being pleasantly surprised: that could also mean that current AirPods will be capable of this, not just the updated ones. And it does suddenly make extra sense to that teasing reference back in September: no new hardware is needed, but Apple just had to work a bit longer on the software.

Anyway, the source goes on:

In addition, the new AirPods will also add black for consumers to choose.

Hurrah, a space grey version of AirPods will become available for those who don't care for the shiny white finish of the current ones - or who want to make sure everybody knows they've got the brand new ones!

As for the finish on the new AirPods:

In terms of design, compared with the previous generation of wireless Bluetooth headsets, the new AirPods will adopt a new surface coating design.

Though it doesn't specify that the new coating is designed to be grippier in the ears, this seems highly likely. I mean, Apple's hardly going to make AirPods slippier than before, now is it?

Much of this seems to confirm what had been rumored by MySmartPrice before, but this comes from a different source. It's when there becomes a critical mass of separate rumors that things begin to take on a level of authenticity and that may be what's happening here.

Source: forbes