Apple’s AirPods–which dropped with a little bit of controversy and little curiosity again in 2016–hit some form of inflection level round 2018, and abruptly grew to become the recent factor. This was handily timed for the 2019 updates, because the 2nd-gen after which Professional variations of the AirPods launched to a newly receptive public and bought just like the proverbial hotcakes. Then got here the AirPods Max in late 2020, the Third-generation AirPods in 2021, and the 2nd-gen AirPods Professional in 2022.
The place subsequent, then, for the AirPods? On this article we are going to have a look at all of the completely different AirPods, evaluating when Apple would possibly subsequent replace them and the brand new options that would arrive with the subsequent technology. We’ll additionally focus on rumors that Apple is about to launch a brand new cheaper AirPods Lite—or AirPods SE—class.
There’s an Apple Occasion taking place on September 9, at which we may see new AirPods! Throughout the occasion we are going to replace this text with the newest data, however you may as well observe together with our Glowtime occasion reside weblog.
Will there be new AirPods quickly?
There are presently three forms of AirPods: The usual AirPods, the AirPods Professional, and the AirPods Max. Whereas Apple doesn’t replace every class of AirPod yearly, it does are inclined to introduce a brand new set of AirPods every year. Nevertheless, in 2023 there have been no main updates to the AirPods vary, aside from an replace to the 2nd-gen AirPods Professional that Apple itself didn’t even qualify as vital sufficient for a generational change. Nonetheless often called the 2nd technology AirPods Professional, the ‘new’ mannequin that was launched in September now comes with a USB-C charging case (changing the lightning port) and barely higher dustproofing.
So, with no vital replace in 2023, what subsequent for the AirPods lineup? Based on Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman Apple plans to overtake your complete AirPods line beginning in 2024 and persevering with into 2025.
Gurman indicated, again in a December 17 2023 publication, that in 2024 Apple’s wearables enterprise, together with the AirPods, will “take centre stage”.
Gurman went on to say the AirPods in a March 2024 publication, saying that new AirPods will enter formal manufacturing in Could, “setting the stage for a release around September or October [2024].”
And in August 2024 he wrote that “Apple will launch the fourth technology of the usual AirPods later this 12 months“.
It’s subsequently wanting very probably that we’ll hear some AirPods information at Apple’s 2024 iPhone occasion.
Apple will maintain an iPhone 16/Apple Watch 10 launch occasion in September (see The way to watch Apple’s iPhone occasion), however new Apple merchandise launch all year long – see when is the subsequent Apple occasion to study extra concerning the firm’s product launch plans.
Learn on to search out out which set of AirPods is prone to be up to date first.
AirPods (4th-gen): Rumors and launch date:
The AirPods are the entry-level earbuds from Apple. First launched in 2016 they’re now within the third technology.
- September 2016: 1st-gen AirPods launched (obtainable in December 2016).
- March 2019: 2nd-gen AirPods launched.
- October 2021: Third-gen AirPods launched.
- Predicted launch September 2024: 4th-gen AirPods.
It’s now been almost three years because the Third-gen AirPods arrived in October 2021, which arrived two and a half years after the second technology launched. On that foundation, we had been longing for a spring 2024 replace. Nevertheless, Gurman’s indications about manufacturing beginning in Could with a launch in September counsel we shall be ready till the September iPhone launch earlier than we see them.
There could also be multiple new customary AirPods mannequin coming, changing each the Third gen and 2nd gen fashions which might be nonetheless on sale. It’s rumored that two new fashions are on the best way: a less expensive mannequin and a extra superior mannequin – codenamed B768(E) and B768(M).
Gurman claims the “new 4th-gen AirPods will look like a hybrid between the 3rd-gen AirPods and AirPods Pro, with short stems”. We are able to additionally count on a brand new search for the circumstances and USB-C charging. Audio high quality shall be improved, however solely “the upper-end version of the two models will include active noise cancellation, bringing that feature to a lower price point.” He additionally means that the higher-end of the 2 fashions will get a case with a speaker for Discover My alerts.
AirPods Lite: Rumors and Launch Date
If Apple does introduce cheaper AirPods, as rumored, they could be often called AirPods Lite. There have been rumors that Apple plans to launch new AirPods Lite or AirPods SE headphones for a number of years.
- Predicted launch September 2024: AirPods Lite.
In January 2023 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicated that Apple had plans to launch “more affordable AirPods (with Apple targeting a price of $99)”.
Additionally in January 2023, analyst Jeff Pu referenced Apple’s plans to introduce the AirPods Lite–a less expensive model of the usual AirPods. Like Kuo, he anticipated a value of $99.
In a report in October 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman mentioned how the AirPods lineup would possibly change in 2024. He steered that Apple intends to exchange the present 2nd-gen AirPods and Third-gen AirPods with two variations of the 4th-gen AirPods: one cheaper and extra primary than the opposite; one providing noise canceling and a case with a speaker for Discover My alerts. Gurman claims that the change of technique from providing the earlier technology at a lower cost is as a result of the Third-gen mannequin doesn’t promote very effectively as a result of clients don’t really feel that it’s well worth the larger value, or select to spend a bit extra for AirPods Professional.
In January 2023, Kuo steered that the AirPods Lite could not ship till the second quarter of 2024 and even 2025. Gurman’s March 2024 publication suggests {that a} September launch is probably going.
AirPods Max 2: Rumors and Launch Date
- December 2020: 1st-gen AirPods Max launched.
- Predicted launch September 2024: 2nd gen AirPods Max.
This winter the AirPods Max shall be 4 years previous and due an replace–particularly within the gentle of competitors from different headphones, together with Apple’s personal Beats Studio Professional. The AirPods Max can not even play Apple’s lossless audio which is an omission that must be rectified.
We focus on among the options we hope for in Apple must scrap the AirPods Max and begin over these embody:
- Lighter and foldable.
- USB-C to three.5mm audio cable along with the included USB-C cable.
- A correct case.
- Means to make use of them as wired headphones.
- Higher sound high quality, noise cancellation, and transparency.
Gurman steered in an October 2023 report that the brand new AirPod Max will are available in new colours and provide USB-C, however they “won’t see many other changes.” It is usually probably that Apple will incorporate the H2 processor discovered within the newer AirPods Professional.
The AirPods Max might not be an enormous concern for Apple although. Whereas Gurman notes in a December publication that “Apple also looks to breathe new life into the AirPods Max headphones,” he permits that: “The cans don’t sell well enough for the company to invest in entirely new hardware or software features”.
Hopefully, we received’t be ready past September 2024, Apple definitely appears prefer it has dropped the mic on this one, and never in a great way.
AirPods Professional (Third-gen): Rumors and launch date
- October 2019: 1st-gen AirPods Professional launched.
- September 2022: 2nd-gen AirPods Professional launched.
- September 2023: USB-C 2nd-gen AirPods Professional launched.
- Predicted launch 2025: Third gen AirPods Professional.
We didn’t see new AirPods in September 2023, however we did see Apple announce that the prevailing AirPods Professional (2nd gen) can be getting a USB-C charging case. This case will be charged with the identical cable as ships with the brand new iPhone 15-series. Apple revealed that the iPhone 15 can even cost the AirPods Professional. These AirPods Professional are nonetheless thought of the second technology, however alongside the USB-C charging case, there may be additionally a change to their IP score, now IP54 (which signifies higher dustproofing). They went on sale on September 22, 2023.
Apple additionally up to date the wired EarPods with a USB-C cable on the September 12 occasion, they beforehand had a Lightning cable.
The second-gen AirPods Professional arrived in September 2022. That replace got here three years after the primary technology launched. On that point scale, we might be ready till 2025 for an replace to the AirPods Professional, however the wait might be even longer.
Once they do arrive the massive new options for the AirPods Professional Third gen are mentioned to be health-related. They’re additionally mentioned to be getting a brand new design.
How a lot will new AirPods price?
If Apple adjusts the AirPods lineup as steered, in all probability received’t see any value adjustments, though we may see some changes with the arrival of the rumored AirPods Lite probably changing the AirPods second gen. With that in thoughts that AirPods lite may price $129, just like the AirPods 2nd Gen, though rumors counsel they may price as little s $99.
Apple adjusted its pricing construction for its headphones in September 2023 outdoors the U.S., so there may be unlikely to be any additional fluctuations.
Right here’s how a lot every mannequin prices proper now within the U.S. and U.Okay.:
- Apple Earbuds $19/£19
- AirPods 2nd-gen $129/£129 (was £139)
- AirPoids Third-gen (Lightning) $169/£169 (was £179)
- AirPoids Third-gen (MagSafe) $179/£179 (was £189)
- AirPods Professional 2nd-gen $249/£229 (was £249)
- AirPods Max $549/£499 (was £549)
The concept that Apple will promote cheaper AirPods, has been knocking round for years. They’ve usually been known as the AirPods Lite and are anticipated to compete with sub-$100 earbuds. Ming-Chi Kuo refers to $99 as the worth goal for the AirPods Lite. This compares to the AirPods 2, that are nonetheless bought by Apple for $129/£129. It’s probably that if Apple introduces the AirPods Lite it is going to cease promoting the older AirPods as a funds providing. Apple’s need to supply AirPods at this value level would permit it to compete on the decrease finish of the market. They might successfully be the SE providing for the AirPods, much like Apple’s Apple Watch SE and iPhone SE.
In a December 2023 publication, Gurman wrote: “The new AirPods should help Apple fix a problem with the existing lineup. The company’s current $179 earbuds–its third-generation, mid-tier model–have been somewhat of a dud with consumers. They look similar to the AirPods Pro, but don’t offer features that are notably better than the $129 second-generation AirPods from 2019.” Gurman steered that this has left “consumers confused about which AirPods to buy” and that consequently: “Shoppers turn to a competitor’s product, aiming to get comparable features to the AirPods Pro at a lower price”.
Analyst Jeff Pu additionally thinks that the AirPods Lite could assist stimulate curiosity within the present lineup.
Aside from the worth adjustments on the backside finish of the lineup, it’s unlikely that costs will change considerably, particularly now that Apple has addressed the unfair pricing outdoors the U.S.
We now have a round-up of the Finest wi-fi earbuds for iPhones and the perfect wired headphones when you’d like to think about alternate options to AirPods. Additionally learn AirPods Professional vs AirPods to learn the way the fashions examine.
New AirPods specs and options
There are a number of limitations that Apple could also be addressing with new AirPods.
Lossless audio
One space ripe for enchancment is the power to play Apple’s hi-res lossless audio, which the corporate launched in June 2021. Bluetooth headphones–together with all of Apple’s AirPods–aren’t able to taking part in audio at this decision.
Apple will little doubt be in search of a technique to convey this know-how to the AirPods Max. The AirPods Max, regardless of their excessive value, aren’t presently able to taking part in Apple’s hi-res lossless audio. An replace in 2023 did convey some capability to play high-res audio on these headphones if they’re used within the wired format. Customers can plug within the AirPods Max by way of the Lightning to three.5mm audio cable and luxuriate in higher high quality sound, however Apple signifies that “Given the analog-to-digital conversion in the cable, the playback will not be completely lossless.”
USB-C
As with the AirPods Professional, we may simply see an replace to the Third-gen AirPods if Apple provides USB-C charging to the case.
Additionally prone to get an replace is the lightning port on the AirPods charging case. With Apple about to undertake USB-C as a substitute of Lightning throughout all its product classes, as a consequence of a ruling within the European Union, Apple has to maneuver away from Lightning and it’s anticipated that the 2023 iPhones can have USB-C ports as a substitute of Lightning, for instance. The AirPods look set to observe this pattern.
Each AirPods case may change to USB-C, in keeping with a tweet from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in August 2022. It’s attainable that this replace may come on the September 2023 occasion.
Kuo adopted this tweet up in March 2023 suggesting that Apple will introduce a model of the second-generation AirPods Professional later in 2023 with a USB-C charging case. He indicated that the third-gen of the usual AirPods is not going to get this USB-C replace.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (in a Energy On publication from October 2022) expects all three AirPods fashions to maneuver to USB-C by the top of 2023 although. Nevertheless, Gurman in July 2023 signaled that the corporate could also be ready to attend a bit longer for the non-standard fashions.
The AirPods Professional, Gurnam mentioned, will persist with their present launch cadence, which suggests the subsequent mannequin, presumably with a USB-C connection, could not arrive till the autumn of 2025. It’s unclear whether or not a brand new case shall be rolled out earlier than then as with the MagSafe case in 2021, although.
Crash Detection
An Apple patent describes a means that movement sensors inside AirPods may support Crash Detection. There have been stories of the iPhone and Apple Watch triggering emergency calls, so it’s probably Apple must mitigate towards this taking place with the AirPods.
Temperature sensor
The massive new options for the Third-gen AirPods Professional will apparently be health-related. Apple is alleged to be body-temperature and well being monitoring.
The Apple Watch already included a temperature sensor, used primarily for the ovulation monitoring characteristic. Apple is alleged to be eager to construct in physique temperature measurement options to its earbuds, the ear canal is being a greater and extra correct supply of such knowledge than a Watch.
Based on Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is engaged on including a temperature sensor to a future set of AirPods. Nevertheless, we could have to attend a bit longer as Gurman isn’t satisfied that this shall be prepared for the fourth technology.
Listening to knowledge
Bloomberg’s Gurman additionally believes that listening to well being goes to be an space of AirPods innovation, writing in March that Apple’s wanting on the “ability to get hearing data of some sort.”
In a report in July, Gurman predicted, a “new hearing test feature that will play different tones and sounds to allow the AirPods to determine how well a person can hear. The idea is to help users screen for hearing issues.”
The present AirPods Professional fashions have already got Dialog Enhance and Stay Pay attention that go some technique to flip them into semi-hearing aids.
In the event you’re eager to listen to the newest rumors about Apple’s 2024 plans, the perfect place to start out is our roundup: New Apple merchandise 2024.
These within the present vary ought to check out our roundup of the perfect AirPods offers for the newest bargains.