Final yr could have been a quiet yr for Apple’s AirPods, however the firm is on observe to make up for that with two new variations of its lower-end true wi-fi earbuds, which might launch within the subsequent three months.
Though Apple’s daring last step right into a USB-C world with the iPhone 15 lineup final fall was accompanied by a revamped model of the second-generation AirPods Professional, these had been principally unchanged from the Lightning-equipped model first launched in 2022. The AirPods Professional with USB-C gained some minor enhancements to supply lossless audio for Imaginative and prescient Professional homeowners, however little else modified past that and a few improved mud resistance that might principally be attributed to the brand new USB-C case.
In the meantime, the third-generation AirPods have been languishing available on the market for two-and-a-half years with none updates. That’s to not say that they aren’t nonetheless nice earbuds, because of Spatial Audio help and an improved in-ear design, but it surely’s honest to say they’re getting a bit stale, and it’s time for one thing new.
Experiences have been swirling for some time that 2024 can be a giant yr for Apple’s wearables generally, because of the launch of the Imaginative and prescient Professional and a rumored “Apple Watch X” anniversary redesign, however Apple additionally has some huge plans for its “AirPods 4” lineup.
First amongst these is that Apple will reportedly deliver noise cancellation to its non-pro earbuds for the primary time. That may theoretically put them extra on par with the AirPods Professional, though Apple will undoubtedly be certain that it’s finished in such a method as to maintain the higher-end buds in their very own class. As an example, some experiences counsel the ANC-equipped AirPods 4 will lack replaceable ear suggestions. There can even doubtless proceed to be software program enhancements that set the AirPods Professional aside.
Nevertheless, these aren’t the one new AirPods that Apple has within the pipeline. In response to the lukewarm reception of the 2021 third-generation AirPods, Apple additionally plans to launch one other set of recent AirPods at a lower cost level. These can be the non secular successors to the 2019 second-gen AirPods that Apple nonetheless sells.
In different phrases, somewhat than repeating its earlier technique and holding the AirPods 3 available on the market as a lower-priced different to the brand new AirPods 4, Apple plans to wipe the slate clear, discontinuing each of the prior generations in favor of two new tiers of fourth-generation AirPods.
There’s nonetheless no phrase on how Apple will market and title these two totally different tiers of AirPods — the title “AirPods Lite” has been bandied about for some time, however there’s no stable proof that Apple plans to make use of that moniker.
To date, the one names we’ve seen are the codenames shared by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who, in his newest Energy On e-newsletter indicated that they’re being internally known as B786(E) and B768(M), the place the E refers to “entry” and the M stands for “mid-tier.”
These codenames counsel the designs could also be very related, if not an identical, with solely inner {hardware} variations. Gurman echoes his report from final yr that the mid-tier model will get ANC and a case that can present Discover My audio system to make them simpler to find.
The brand new fashions will change the second- and third-generation AirPods. The up to date variations are codenamed B768(E) and B768(M), with the E representing “entry” and the M standing for “mid-tier.” Each could have a brand new design, improved match and charging instances with USB-C, however the mid-tier model will get lively noise cancellation and Discover My audio system within the case, making it simpler to find the product if it will get misplaced.
Mark Gurman
Extra considerably, these new AirPods could also be coming earlier than we thought. Whereas Apple has usually adopted a fall launch schedule for AirPods, the brand new fourth-generation AirPods might comply with within the footsteps of their 2019 ancestors by seeing a spring launch.
In response to Gurman’s sources, Apple’s suppliers are preparing for “the most important AirPods launch so far,” planning a “record-setting” manufacturing run of 20 million to 25 million models of the earbuds. Manufacturing is anticipated to kick off in Might, and whereas there’s no assure that Apple will announce the brand new AirPods instantly, it’s potential we might hear one thing by the point of Apple’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) in June.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]