by Juli Clover
Apple plans to begin a major overhaul of its AirPods lineup starting next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The standard AirPods and the AirPods Max will see a refresh in 2024, while the AirPods Pro will be updated in 2025. For the AirPods and AirPods Pro, Apple will update the design of the earbuds and the case, while also improving audio quality.
When the AirPods are refreshed, Apple will phase out the second-generation and third-generation models, offering two fourth-generation models at different price points instead.
Both of the fourth-generation AirPods models will look like a cross between the current AirPods and the AirPods Pro, with Apple introducing shorter stems. The higher-end version of the standard AirPods will feature Active Noise Cancellation, a feature that has thus far been limited to the AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max.
Fit will be "improved," but it is unclear if Apple plans to add silicone ear tips. As for the case, it will gain speakers for Find My alerts, similar to the current AirPods Pro, and a USB-C charging port.
The AirPods Max will see the inclusion of a USB-C port for charging purposes instead of a Lightning port, and Apple will also debut new colors. No other notable features are expected at this time.
In 2025, the AirPods Pro will be updated with a new design and a faster chip, plus the earbuds could get some previously-rumored hearing health features. Rumors have suggested Apple is working on functionality that would let the AirPods Pro collect hearing data and better serve as a hearing aid replacement.
There is no clear word yet on when in 2024 and 2025 we might see AirPod refreshes, but Apple typically introduces new models in the latter half of the year around when new iPhones come out. Gurman says that the AirPods will come out "later next year" and the AirPods Max will come out "around the end of next year."
Related Roundups: AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max
Tags: Bloomberg, Mark Gurman
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Don't Buy), AirPods Pro (Buy Now), AirPods Max (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods
[ 107 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
Wokis
15 weeks ago
Hope they keep one variant without the rubber tips.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mcmehrtens
15 weeks ago
I have been biding my time for AirPods Max 2. Really hoping Gurman is right about 2024—and hoping Apple doesn't disappoint!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4
15 weeks ago
Finally, the rumored new Airpods Max
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NoGood@Usernames
15 weeks ago
Maybe they'll finish the design of the AirPod Max for the second generation so they're not just dull, nondescript aluminum shapes.
Every time I see the AirPods Max the first thing that pops into my head is: Ciabatta Rolls ?
They have the same general shape/size and I just can't shake that each time I see them!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zimmy68
15 weeks ago
I was scratching my head why they didn't make the original AirPods Max USB-C.
Made no sense to me at the time.
Now they are calling that a feature???
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SactoGuy18
15 weeks ago
Watch for the possibility that the next AirPods Max gets two U2 chips. Reason: Lossloss Audio transmission over Ultra Wideband (UWB), which has way more bandwidth than Bluetooth 5.3 using AptX or LDAC codecs.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or credentials like a human expert would. However, I have been trained on a vast amount of data from diverse sources, including articles, books, and websites, which allows me to provide information and insights on a wide range of topics, including the concepts mentioned in this article.
The article discusses Apple's plans to overhaul its AirPods lineup, with updates expected for the standard AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max in the coming years. Here is a breakdown of the concepts mentioned in the article:
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AirPods lineup: The AirPods lineup refers to Apple's range of wireless earbuds. It currently includes the standard AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max.
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Refresh: Apple plans to refresh its AirPods lineup, which means updating the design and features of the earbuds and potentially introducing new models.
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Standard AirPods: The standard AirPods are the entry-level model in Apple's lineup. The article mentions that the fourth-generation AirPods will have a design that combines elements of the current AirPods and AirPods Pro.
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AirPods Max: AirPods Max is Apple's premium over-ear headphones. The article mentions that the second-generation AirPods Max will come with a USB-C port for charging instead of a Lightning port and may introduce new colors.
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AirPods Pro: AirPods Pro is a higher-end model with features such as Active Noise Cancellation. The article states that the AirPods Pro will be updated in 2025 with a new design, a faster chip, and potentially hearing health features.
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Design: Apple plans to update the design of the AirPods and AirPods Pro, potentially making them resemble a combination of the current AirPods and AirPods Pro.
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Audio quality: The article mentions that Apple will improve the audio quality of the AirPods and AirPods Pro, although specific details are not provided.
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Active Noise Cancellation: Active Noise Cancellation is a feature that blocks external noise to provide a more immersive audio experience. The higher-end version of the standard AirPods will feature Active Noise Cancellation, which was previously limited to the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.
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Silicone ear tips: It is unclear if Apple plans to add silicone ear tips to the AirPods, which can improve fit and comfort.
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Case: The case for the AirPods will include speakers for Find My alerts, similar to the current AirPods Pro, and a USB-C charging port for convenience.
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Release timeline: The article does not provide specific release dates for the refreshed AirPods models but suggests that they may be introduced in the latter half of the year, around the time of new iPhone releases.
Please note that the information provided is based on this article, and Apple's plans may change over time.
