Report says Apple will refresh its AirPods line next year،
According to
Bloomberg, 2024 could be the year of AirPods as Apple plans to refresh the lineup next year. Apple first introduced AirPods in 2016 and their design has become iconic. About a month after the launch of the OG true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds, the wearable already had 26% of the market. And AirPods have remained a staple of Apple’s wearable offerings along with the Apple Watch and the device leads the wireless earphone market with a 32% share according to Canalys.
Bloomberg says we could see the most expensive AirPods, the over-ear AirPods Max, get a new version that will include a USB-C charging port and new color options. A previous patent application filed by Apple suggests that AirPods Max 2 will replace the Digital Crown with a touch surface. AirPods Max cost $549 and include noise cancellation.
The report states that the second and third generation AirPods models, priced at $129 and $169 respectively, will be replaced by two fourth-generation AirPods earbuds featuring a new design that will resemble a combination of the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2. This will include shorter stems and one of the 4th generation AirPods will feature noise cancellation. The price of the new fourth generation AirPods is expected to be similar to the current price of the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 with one cheaper variant and one more expensive model.
An updated version of the over-ear AirPods Max will charge via USB-C
The more expensive fourth-generation AirPods that include noise cancellation will also come with an updated charging case that has speakers for Find My alerts, something available on the latest AirPods Pro charging case. These alerts, triggered when an AirPods owner loses their case, will be easier to hear. And while the two new 4th generation AirPods would be a better fit, they aren’t expected to offer replaceable tips like the AirPods Pro do.
The charging cases for both new fourth-generation AirPods will feature a USB-C charging port replacing the proprietary Lightning port. AirPods will also benefit from new color options. Apple hopes that by adding the noise-cancelling feature to the more expensive fourth-generation AirPods model, it will give consumers a reason to pay more for the more expensive fourth-generation AirPods variant. Currently, the $129 AirPods 2 are outselling the $169 AirPods 3 because buyers don’t see a $40 difference between the two models.
The next iteration of the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro is expected to arrive in 2025 according to the report.
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