It has been quite some time since the
AirPods
and
AirPods Max
received an
update
. The AirPods were last refreshed almost three years ago, while the AirPods Max are now four years old. So, when to expect the AirPods? Well, if rumours are to be believed, the next-generation AirPods and AirPods Max are coming later this year.
According to a recent report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning a significant
refresh
of its AirPods lineup by the end of 2024.
This overhaul will consist of not one but two
new
models of AirPods, an update to the AirPods Max over-ear headphones, and the discontinuation of the 2nd and 3rd
generation
AirPods.
AirPods rumoured to have a new design and USB-CThe new entry-level AirPods will feature an all-new design for better fit and improved sound quality. Also, there will be two of them instead of one. Gurmam had earlier suggested that the AirPods 4th generation would come in two variants – a higher-end one with active noise cancellation and the regular one without noise cancellation.
The next-generation AirPods are said to look very similar to the AirPods Pro, with the higher-end variant having silicone tips for implementing noise cancellation, while the regular ones won’t have silicone tips. They will also come with a new charging case that switches to a USB-C port instead of Lightning. Additionally, the higher-end variant will also include a built-in speaker for Find My location tracking.
In terms of pricing, the regular ones are expected to be priced similarly to the current AirPods, while the higher-end variant is anticipated to cost more than the former but less than the AirPods Pro.
With the arrival of the 4th generation AirPods, Apple will discontinue the 2nd and 3rd generation models currently on the market. The 3rd generation especially has reportedly struggled with sales, given its minor improvements over previous versions.
AirPods Max refresh on its way, too
On the over-ear side, the AirPods Max 2 aren't expected to have any major design changes. The focus will instead be on replacing the Lightning port with USB-C. What else could be new is the more colour options.
No new AirPods Pro this year
The AirPods Pro will be the only model not seeing an update this year. Gurman reports that a 3rd generation version with design changes and an upgraded chip won't arrive until 2025.
It is unclear when the new AirPods will launch, but Apple typically unveils them alongside new iPhones in September.
English (US) ·