Apple’s AirPods–which dropped with a little bit of controversy and little curiosity again in 2016–hit some type of inflection level round 2018, and all of the sudden turned 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 following technology. We’ll additionally talk about rumors that Apple is about to launch a brand new cheaper AirPods Lite—or AirPods SE—class.
Replace October 26: Apple is planning to overtake the AirPods in 2024, in response to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (extra under).
Did Apple announce new AirPods on the iPhone occasion?
We didn’t see new AirPods on the iPhone occasion in September, however we did see Apple announce that the present AirPods Professional (2nd gen) can be getting a USB-C charging case. This case may be charged with the identical cable as ships with the brand new iPhone 15-series. Apple revealed that the iPhone 15 may 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 ranking, now IP54. They went on sale on September 22.
Apple additionally up to date the wired EarPods with a USB-C cable on the September 12 occasion, they beforehand had a Lightning cable.
Will there be new AirPods quickly?
There are presently three varieties of AirPods: The usual AirPods, the AirPods Professional, and the AirPods Max. Whereas Apple doesn’t replace every class of AirPod on a yearly foundation, it does are likely to introduce a brand new set of AirPods every year. Looking at when every mannequin was final up to date can provide us some clues as to when the brand new ones may arrive.
- September 2016: 1st-gen AirPods launched, launched in December 2016.
- March 2019: 2nd-gen AirPods launched.
- October 2019: 1st-gen AirPods Professional launched.
- December 2020: 1st-gen AirPods Max launched.
- October 2021: Third-gen AirPods launched.
- September 2022: 2nd-gen AirPods Professional launched.
Primarily based on the above it might be logical to conclude that AirPods Max are subsequent on the listing. Now approaching three years previous the AirPods Max can’t play Apple’s lossless audio, which is an omission that must be rectified. The expertise to attain this will likely not but be accessible although.
There have additionally been rumors that Apple plans to launch new AirPods Lite or AirPods SE headphones for a while, and in January 2023 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo described these as “extra inexpensive AirPods (with Apple concentrating on a value of $99)”.
AirPods Lite: Rumors and Launch Date
In January 2023 analyst Jeff Pu additionally referenced Apple’s plans to introduce the AirPods Lite, a cheaper model of the usual AirPods. Like Kuo, he anticipated a value of $99. He added that Apple has no plans to replace any of the present AirPods, so the AirPods Lite could also be a approach to stimulate curiosity within the present lineup.
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 interchange 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. The upper-end mannequin 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 cheaper price is as a result of the Third-gen mannequin doesn’t promote very nicely as a result of clients don’t really feel that it’s well worth the increased value, or select to spend somewhat extra for AirPods Professional. This could be the muse of the “cheaper AirPods” rumors.
These new AirPods are unlikely to reach in time for the Christmas purchasing season. In January 2023 Kuo indicated that we’ll be ready till 2024 for this new AirPods class. He steered that they could not ship till the second quarter of 2024 and even 2025.
If, as rumored, these new AirPods are priced round $99 then they’re more likely to have price range options. For an thought of what to anticipate we may look to the 2nd-gen AirPods, that are nonetheless on sale however more likely to be supplanted by the brand new price range mannequin. One other comparability might be with the Beats Flex (Beats is a subsidiary of Apple).
AirPods Max 2: Rumors and Launch Date
By the winter of 2023, the AirPods Max can be three years previous and due an replace–particularly within the gentle of competitors from different headphones, together with Apple’s personal Beats Studio Professional. Nevertheless, it appears we could have to attend till the top of 2024 for an replace. 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 “received’t see many different adjustments.”
Gurman hasn’t all the time thought the wait can be so lengthy although. Again in Might 2022, Gurman wrote in a e-newsletter that new AirPods Max might be imminent. He wrote: “Look out for an AirPods Max refresh with new colours (and, we hope, a value drop—$550 is absurd for these headphones)”.
AirPods (4th-gen): Rumors and launch date
The third-gen AirPods arrived in October 2021. That replace got here two and a half years after the second technology launched. We might be ready till 2024 for an replace to the AirPods, though there might be an excellent longer wait.
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.
Nevertheless, in Gurman’s October report (talked about above) it’s steered that two fashions of 4th-generation AirPods are on the best way, a less expensive mannequin and a extra superior mannequin. The costlier mannequin can be extra of a hybrid between the Third-gen AirPods and AirPods Professional.
AirPods Professional (Third-gen): Rumors and launch date
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.
There was a minor replace to the AirPods Professional in 2023. Apple switched charging from Lightning to UCB-C on the occasion in September. These are nonetheless thought of the second-generation AirPods Professional although. Aside from the swap to USB-C the brand new AirPods Professional turned IP54-certified (which doesn’t imply they’re waterproof, this ranking signifies they’re dust-protected).
Apple
So what in regards to the Third-gen AirPods Professional? Apparently, the large new function right here can be health-related. They may even stated to be getting a brand new design.
How a lot will new AirPods value?
The AirPods and AirPods Professional are unlikely to see a value change, though the costs exterior the U.S. could also be adjusted in some unspecified time in the future, as Apple has executed with each different product.
Apple’s present pricing construction for its headphones is as follows:
- Apple Earbuds $19/£19
- AirPods 2nd-gen $129/£139
- AirPoids Third-gen (Lightning) $169/£179
- AirPoids Third-gen (MagSafe) $179/£189
- AirPods Professional 2nd-gen $249/£249
- AirPods Max $549/£549
The AirPods Max may even see a value lower, based mostly on Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggestion above–though that appeared to be extra of a hope than a sign.
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/£139. It’s seemingly that if Apple introduces the AirPods Lite it would cease promoting the older AirPods as a price range providing. Apple’s want 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, just like Apple’s Apple Watch SE and iPhone SE.
We’ve a round-up of the Greatest wi-fi earbuds for iPhones and the finest wired headphones for those who’d like to think about alternate options to AirPods.
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 flexibility 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 enjoying audio at this decision.
Apple will little doubt be searching for a approach to convey this expertise to the AirPods Max. The AirPods Max, regardless of their excessive value, aren’t presently able to enjoying 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 through the Lightning to three.5mm audio cable and revel in higher high quality sound, however Apple signifies that “Given the analog-to-digital conversion within the cable, the playback is not going to be utterly lossless.”
USB-C
Additionally more likely to get an replace is the lightning port on the AirPods charging case. With Apple about to undertake USB-C as an alternative 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 could have USB-C ports as an alternative of Lightning, for instance. The AirPods look set to observe this pattern.
Each AirPods case may change to USB-C, in response to a tweet from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in August 2022. It’s doable 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 e-newsletter 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 somewhat longer for the non-standard fashions.
The AirPods Professional, Gurnam stated, will keep on with their present launch cadence, which implies the following 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 can be rolled out earlier than then as with the MagSafe case in 2021, although.
Temperature sensor
The Apple Watch already included a temperature sensor, used primarily for the ovulation monitoring function. 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.
In accordance with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is engaged on including a temperature sensor to a future set of AirPods. Nevertheless, we could have to attend somewhat longer as Gurman isn’t satisfied that this can be prepared for the fourth technology.
Listening to knowledge
Bloomberg’s Gurman believes that listening to well being goes to be an space of AirPods innovation, writing in March that Apple’s trying on the “means to get listening to knowledge of some kind.”
In a report in July, Gurman predicted, a “new listening to check function that may play completely different tones and sounds to permit the AirPods to find out how nicely an individual can hear. The thought is to assist customers display for listening to points.”
The present AirPods Professional fashions have already got Dialog Increase and Reside Hear that go some approach to flip them into semi-hearing aids.
Crash Detection
An Apple patent describes a manner that movement sensors inside AirPods may support Crash Detection. There have been reviews of the iPhone and Apple Watch triggering emergency calls, so it’s seemingly Apple should mitigate towards this occurring with the AirPods.
AirPods Max: Is an overhaul wanted?
We talk about a few of the options we hope for in Apple must scrap the AirPods Max and begin over these embrace:
- Lighter and foldable
- USB-C to three.5mm audio cable along with the included USB-C cable
- A correct case
- Capacity to make use of them as wired headphones
- Higher sound high quality, noise cancellation, and transparency
When you’re eager to listen to the newest rumors about Apple’s 2023 plans, the very best place to start out is our roundup: New Apple merchandise 2023.
These within the present vary ought to check out our roundup of the finest AirPods offers for the newest bargains.
