This week the U.S. Patent Office published a patent application of Apple's that relates to a new smaller speaker design for a range of devices including an iPhone, smartglasses, an Apple watch and MacBook. A speaker pod can include a first speaker in fluid communication with a first channel, and a second speaker in fluid communication with a second channel. The first channel and the second channel converge to the port.

Apple notes in their patent background that design of integrated speaker assemblies that maintain a broad frequency range and desirable acoustic performance levels can be challenging given the increasingly high demands for reduced size and high performance in a limited space.

A new Two-Part Speaker System

Apple’s patent application cover electronic devices that can include a housing that defines an opening, a first speaker in fluid communication with a first channel, and a second speaker in fluid communication with a second channel, wherein the first channel and the second channel converge into a shared channel in fluid communication with the opening.

In some examples, the first speaker includes a woofer and the second speaker comprises a tweeter. The electronic device can further include a first mesh positioned at the opening, and a second mesh positioned at an interface between the woofer and the tweeter. The second mesh can have a higher density than the first mesh. The electronic device can include a barrier that covers the opening. The barrier can include a woven mesh, and a metallic screen defining an exterior of the electronic device.

In some examples, the first speaker includes a first diaphragm that oscillates along a first axis, and the second speaker can include a second diaphragm that oscillates along a second axis parallel to the first axis. The electronic device can include a wall to shield the second speaker from acoustic waves generated by the first speaker, the wall at least partially defining the second channel.

The electronic device can include a speaker pod disposed within the housing. The speaker pod can define a port aligned with the opening, the first channel, and the second channel.

A speaker unit can include a housing defining an interior volume and an outlet, the outlet in fluid communication with the interior volume and an outside environment. The speaker unit can include a woofer positioned in the interior volume, the woofer can transmit first acoustic waves having frequencies between 20 Hz and 2 kHz through a woofer channel in fluid communication with the outlet, and a tweeter positioned in the interior volume and at least partially overlapping the woofer, the tweeter can transmit second acoustic waves having frequencies between 200 Hz and 20 kHz through a tweeter channel in fluid communication with the outlet.

Apple’s patent FIGS. 1A-1D illustrates that main devices that this new speaker system is primarily designed for. FIG. 1A illustrates smartglasses and AR glasses.  The speaker is built into the side temples or arms near the ears.  

Apple’s patent FIG. 3A above illustrates a top perspective view of an example of a speaker assembly #312. The pod #313 can house a woofer #330 and a tweeter #334. The tweeter 334 can be positioned at least partially adjacent to the woofer. As described herein, the tweeter can at least partially stack or overlap the woofer in order to accommodate for a reduced dimension of the pod.

The speaker assembly can include a deformable foam positioned between the tweeter and the housing. The speaker assembly can include a deformable foam positioned between a channel wall and the housing.

Apple Inventors 

• Neal Evans: Audio System Tuning Engineer
• Javier Mendez: Product Design Engineer
• James Vandyke: Product Design Engineer

For full details, review Apple's patent application 20250126384. Will Apple use this in the iPhone Air? Only time will tell.