Apple’s next iPhone could allow users to connect two pairs of Bluetooth headphones at the same time, claims a report this morning from Japanese tech blog Mac Otakara. The blog says the function will be similar to Samsung’s Dual Audio Feature, which lets users play music or other audio from their Galaxy phone or tablet to two connected bluetooth devices.
Mac Otakara suggests a usage scenario in which an iPhone could be connected to a car as well as wireless headphones, transmitting GPS directions to the in-car audio system and audio to the headphones.
Current iPhones can connect to multiple Bluetooth devices (and multiple speakers via AirPlay 2), but only one Bluetooth audio profile, so the ability to connect to two audio-based BT devices would certainly be a new, welcome addition to the feature set.
Samsung’s dual audio feature is an implementation of Bluetooth 5.0 technology, suggesting Apple’s function could be of similar origin. If that turned out to be the case, Apple could potentially bring the feature to iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS models via a software update.
But, don’t get your hopes up too high as the sourcing of this rumor isn’t amazing. Mac Otakara cites a supply chain source, but doesn’t say which iPhone model might be getting the feature. We’ll have to wait a bit longer to see what happens next.
