Apple poised to add hands-free Siri to its AirPods and make them waterproof

Apple's AirPods are poised to get hands-free Siri and be made waterproof. Photo / AP

Apple's wireless headphones are set to get an upgrade by the end of 2018.

The second-generation AirPods will feature a new chip from Apple to improve the use of Siri and speed up the connection from phone to headphones.

Rumours are circling that Apple is also working on a third-generation version for release in 2019 that will be waterproof, according to the Daily Mail.

Speaking to Bloomberg, a unnamed source familiar with the matter said Apple plans to launch its second generation AirPods by the second half of the year.

One improvement to the audio accessory will be an upgrade to its access to Apple's Siri digital assistant, the source said.

In a similar way to how Siri is beckoned on iPhones, users will be able to say "Hey Siri" to activate the function.

Users of Apple's first-generation AirPods, which launched in 2016, had to physically tap a button on the headphones.

Apple is also believed to be working on installing a W2 chip in the headphones.

Currently, the AirPods use a W1 chip, which is reportedly responsible for the occasional difficulty some users have in syncing their headphones with their phone.

The W2 chip, announced as part of the Apple Watches from last year, would address this and make the connection more reliable.

The third-generation, set for release in 2019, will make the AirPods waterproof, according to Bloomberg.

"The idea for the water-resistant model is for the headphones to survive splashes of water and rain," according to Bloomberg.

"They likely won't be designed to be submerged in water."

Apple has been working hard on its AirPods and has previously announced a case to allow for wireless charging, much like the iPhoneX.

AirPods received somewhat of a mixed response when first announced to the public in 2016.

With questions over their practicality, durability and quality, consumers were sceptical.

Despite this, demand for them sky-rocketed and they are now considered one of Apple's most successful products.

AirPods were imitated by many other manufacturers, but 85 per cent of all wireless speakers sold in the US are AirPods.

Demand was so high for the products over the Christmas period of 2016 and 2017 that Apple stocks were depleted and many outlets sold-out.