Apple is rumored to be working on several upcoming products, including a set of so-called “AirPod Pro Lite” wireless earbuds.
A DigiTimes report also mentions new versions of the iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac, all of which will likely be updated during the coming year. (The iPad and Apple Watch will likely debut in September.)
The Digitimes report mention does not include further details, and the mention is buried in a report about Apple’s working with Taiwanese partners to ramp up production in Taiwan in the face of the coronavirus outbreak that is affecting Apple product production in China.
Apple, maintaining partnerships with supply chains in both Taiwan and China, may have its Taiwanese partners handle more production of new-generation iPad, Apple Watch, AirPod Pro Lite and iMac devices to be released later, as the epidemic has raised risks of raw materials supply shortages and shipments disruptions arising from uncertain resumption of normal operations at components suppliers and assembly plants in China, the sources said.
It isn’t clear what the reasoning behind an “AirPod Pro Lite” product would be, as Apple just released its AirPods Pro last October, and had launched its second-generation AirPods in March of last year. The products are priced only $50 apart, so (as pointed out by MacRumors) it isn’t exactly clear where “Lite” AirPods Pro earbuds would fit into the lineup.
As usual – especially when the source is Digitimes – You’ll need to take this report with a grain of your favorite low-sodium seasoning, as nothing is set in stone until Apple unveils it on a stage somewhere.
