The next-generation AirPods that were expected to be announced at Apple’s much-rumored March event are now ready for launch, says noted leaker Jon Prosser of the YouTube channel Front Page Tech.
Prosser says the new AirPods could launch sometime next month, but he’s not sure about the exact timing of the announcement. However, he says the announcement will come alongside a new MacBook Pro.
While Prosser didn’t offer any details on what new features we might expect to see in any next-gen AirPods, one possibility is that the new AirPods would feature the same design as the AirPods Por, but will lack Active Noise Cancellation.
Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes in February mentioned upcoming “AirPod Pro Lite” earphones, but failed to provide any details about their claim. The mention was 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.
The publication doubled down on their claim later that same month. Digitimes described the AirPods Pro Lite as an entry-level truly wireless earphone set. The report does somewhat jibe with a previous prediction by well-connected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who previously said apple would release new wireless headphones in the first half of 2020.
While there is a chance both parties are talking about the same product, Digitimes described the new AirPods as “entry-level,” while Kuo says the new earbuds would be high-end, more like an Apple-branded version of the company’s Beats Solo Pro headset.
It’s not for certain where an AirPods Pro Lite model would fit into Apple’s AirPods lineup. The company currently asks $199 for AirPods and $249 for AirPods Pro, and also sell AirPods without a wireless charging case for $159. The new AirPods could be a replacement fo the cheaper item.