Apple Earpods Will Adjust to Wearer's Specific Size

For years now, Apple has included a stock pair of headphones to go along with the purchase of an iPod or iPhone device. Although the design of these stock ear buds was slightly improved recently, they still remain relatively underwhelming. It's understandable after all, Apple is in the electronics business and devotes most of its time and energy in making sure the product the headphones come with is state of the art. However, a new patent picked up by Apple Insider hints at a change in that way of thinking.

The new patent seems to hint at an ear bud design that can adjust the audio output to match any user's specific ear canal size and shape. Tech Crunch reports the patent applications describe a method of measuring ear bud fit based on signals including electrical current, acoustic indicators with a mic including signal frequency and more. All of this data collected would then help the ear buds automatically change audio delivery to compensate for a less than perfect seal. It would then alter balance, changing equalizer settings and adjust noise cancellation response.

There's also a method in the patent that would alert the user to less than perfect sound output so that he or she can physically readjust the ear buds in order to fit the ear canal better if the automatic adjustments don't do the trick.

This new automatic design should make it so the ear buds don't have to be readjusted as often if, say, the user wants to go for a run, he or she won't have to optimize the headphone's fit for each stride but rather for maximum audio output.

Apple has made some attempts to make the best earphones on the market including its in-ear variant as well as the latest stock redesign. It has yet to be met with any real or revolutionary success. However, many are already saying this redesign might be the thing to give Apple a leg up in the market for premium headphones.