After what looks like infinite months of rumors and hypothesis, we could lastly get to see what Apple has in retailer for its AirPods line of true wi-fi earbuds in September.
Multiple stories from DigiTimes, Forbes, and Bloomberg are in settlement that the long-awaited replace to Apple’s massively common iconic white buds will debut alongside the iPhone 13 on the similar annual fall occasion.
While earlier stories had pegged the AirPods 3 (not essentially the identify Apple will use) for a launch earlier in 2021, DigiTimes (by way of 9to5Mac) claims that shipments of a versatile circuit board required to construct the brand new model have begun, lending some credibility to a September launch, with retail availability to occur shortly after.
Here’s what we will count on from the subsequent model of Apple’s AirPods.
Design

Nice pic.twitter.com/2PJdCd2hEn
— LeaksApplePro (@LeaksApplePro) March 10, 2021
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the subsequent AirPods will find yourself wanting rather a lot just like the AirPods Pro, and a photograph revealed by LeaksApplePro on Twitter appears to substantiate this. The photograph exhibits a set of iconic white earbuds which have a really comparable form to the AirPods Pro however apparently lack the Pro’s white silicone eartips. The charging case additionally seems barely taller than the one which comes with the AirPods Pro.
The pictured earbuds, if they’re in truth the actual McCoy, verify what Korean weblog The Elec claimed in 2020 — that the brand new earbuds are designed for “Those who like the shape and fit of AirPods Pro but don’t use noise canceling will be potential customers.” The lack of silicone eartips is a robust motive to consider the brand new AirPods received’t have ANC.
The angled stems additionally seem to borrow the AirPods Pro’s pressure-sensitive controls, which might exchange the present AirPods’ motion-sensitive faucet controls.
The identify: AirPods 3, AirPods Pro Lite, or AirPods+
Guessing Apple’s identify for its new merchandise could be nearly as a lot enjoyable as guessing what they’ll do and the way a lot they’ll price. At this level within the firm’s historical past, some naming tendencies are apparent. Apple enjoys giving its iPhone and iPad names that use numbers, phrases, and letters, e.g., iPhone 11, iPad Pro, and iPhone SE. The similar can’t be stated of its different merchandise, just like the Apple TV, iMac, MacBook, and so forth., all of which have prevented numbers to designate how new they’re.
Given that sample, we predict it’s unlikely the AirPods 3 will really be known as AirPods 3. Many have speculated they might be known as the AirPods Pro Lite, due to their similarity to the AirPods Pro from a design perspective. But “Pro Lite” feels awkward. How can one thing be each “pro” and “lite”? Isn’t that an oxymoron?
We suppose it’s more likely that Apple will both think about its subsequent AirPods merely a generational replace — due to this fact “AirPods 3rd generation” — or it would leverage the “plus” from Apple TV+, thus AirPods+.
If these new earbuds sit in between the prevailing AirPods and the AirPods Pro by way of options and/or value and particularly if Apple decides to maintain all three within the lineup, calling them AirPods+ would make loads of sense.
Still, Kuo, who has an admirable observe report on Apple predictions, continues to seek advice from them on the AirPods 3.
Better sound
Initially, it was thought that the AirPods 3 would use the AirPods Pro’s silicone suggestions, thus routinely provide higher sound high quality than the prevailing AirPods. A totally-sealed ear canal would have meant that the sound they produce can’t escape, and competing exterior sounds can’t get in. But an open design and not using a direct seal to the ear canal has limitations on how good it might probably sound.
The Earin A-3, which launched earlier this yr, proves that these open designs can sound higher than the present AirPods, but it surely’s unlikely they’ll sound nearly as good because the AirPods Pro.
Some noise cancellation
While ANC is often related to sealed-ear canal designs, that is slowly altering. Samsung launched the function on its Galaxy Buds Live, which don’t enter the ear canal. Granted, Samsung’s efforts on this space haven’t confirmed particularly profitable, however that doesn’t imply Apple will face comparable issues.
It’s value retaining in thoughts that the AirPods Pro are nonetheless among the many highest ANC earbuds we’ve ever examined — Apple clearly is aware of a factor or two about easy methods to do ANC properly.
Nonetheless, The Elec’s report, which quotes a Korean provider that claims to be making a part of the chipset {hardware} for the subsequent AirPods, says that these new earbuds received’t have any sort of noise cancellation.
Bone conduction?
An Apple patent for bone-conduction audio was noticed by AppleInsider, main it to invest that Apple would possibly use this expertise in a future AirPods design.
Bone-conduction audio bypasses the outer ear and ear canal, feeding sounds to our internal ear by vibrating bone materials in our skulls. It’s confirmed efficient for conditions the place folks need to preserve a excessive diploma of consciousness of the surface world (say, when working close to hazards like car site visitors) or just don’t need objects of their ears.
We suppose it’s extremely unlikely that the AirPods 3 will use bone conduction, however there’s an opportunity we might see this audio expertise along with one other rumored Apple product: Apple Glass.
Transparency mode
Transparency mode works very properly on the AirPods Pro — it’s arguably one in all their finest options. But you solely want a transparency mode if the design of an earbud does a superb job of passively isolating exterior sounds. Without silicon sleeves, it’s uncertain that the AirPods 3 will want a transparency mode, however that doesn’t imply Apple received’t embrace one anyway as there are nonetheless advantages even with an open design like higher name high quality by letting you hear your personal voice extra clearly.
Price
It could be powerful second-guessing Apple on value, however we already know two issues: The AirPods Pro price $249, and the AirPods price $159 for those who purchase the mannequin with out wi-fi charging. So any AirPods mannequin that goals to be between these two by way of options should be between them on value too.
We’re guessing that locations the AirPods 3 at $199 — the present price of a set of AirPods with wi-fi charging. Coincidentally, that’s precisely the worth predicted by the Korean provider that spoke to The Elec, who stated they are going to be priced “20% less” than the AirPods Pro. What occurs to the prevailing AirPods? Apple will hold them at $159, however now you’ll get the wi-fi charging case included at that value.
If Apple decides to easily replace the bottom AirPods as an alternative of making a brand new product, costs will most likely keep precisely the place they’re.
Release date
The one factor all sources to date appear to agree on is that Apple’s new earbuds will floor in 2021. In 2020, Kuo initially predicted that we’d see the AirPods 3 arrive within the first half of 2021, and Bloomberg reported comparable timing. Earlier this yr, in accordance with AppleInsider, Kuo has revised his timing, saying in his newest report back to buyers that we shouldn’t count on to see the brand new earbuds till the third quarter of 2021, which implies a September debut is the likeliest timing.
Want extra information, critiques, guides, and options from Digital Trends? Follow us on Apple News, Google News, and Flipboard.

Editors’ Recommendations