The strap loop in the charging case of the 2nd generation AirPods Pro is also an antenna

Apple's noise-cancelling wireless earphones `` AirPods Pro (2nd generation) '' released on September 23, 2022 are newly equipped with a speaker that can make a ping sound with the `` search '' function and a strap loop for strap attachment. Did. It has been pointed out that the strap loop of this charging case actually functions as an antenna.

CT Teardown: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

2nd generation “AirPods Pro” haste photo review, what has changed from the 1st generation AirPods Pro? -GIGAZINE

Apple products such as iPhone and iPad can use the 'Find' function to locate the device with high accuracy. This 'search' function is a location tracking system using Bluetooth and iCloud, which builds a network between Apple terminals and monitors the device's Bluetooth beacon. You can understand exactly how it works by reading the following article.

What is the mechanism of the 'Find My' function that can locate even offline terminals announced by Apple? -GIGAZINE

The AirPods Pro charging case is very difficult to disassemble, but Lumafield, a non-destructive testing company, used an industrial CT scanner to examine the inside of the 2nd generation AirPods Pro charging case.

Below are the scanned images of the first generation (left) and second generation (right) of AirPods Pro. Even if you compare the contents, the contents have hardly changed, but it is said that a magnet has been added to the bottom of the charging port where the earphone body is inserted. Also, since the second generation is compatible with the MagSafe charger for Apple Watch, a magnet has been added to the center of the case.

And the scan image around the strap loop is below. If you look closely you can see the cable running from the metal strap loop to the internal board.

Lumafield speculates that the cable 'indicates that the strap loop acts as an antenna to support the 'seek' function.' The 2nd generation AirPods Pro is equipped with a U1 chip with a coordinate measurement accuracy of a few centimeters. This U1 chip has also enhanced the support for the 'search' function, but by using the strap loop as an antenna, it can be expected that the sensitivity of Bluetooth transmission and reception will increase, making it easier to find.

A blog dealing with Apple products iDB commented, 'I salute Apple for providing this very smart and cool engineering.'