Regardless of together with 4 totally different fashions nonetheless obtainable around the globe, Apple’s industry-leading AirPods lineup has began to really feel a bit stale in latest months. That is partly as a consequence of stronger and stronger competitors from manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, Google, Jabra, Bose, and even Apple-owned Beats and maybe in bigger half as a result of the solely 2023 addition to the product household appears nearly similar to 2022’s AirPods Professional 2.
However fret not, as a number of dependable insiders, usually well-informed analysts, and prolific leakers anticipate the AirPods portfolio to be expanded with as many as three new fashions in 2024. And thoughts you, we’re speaking about all-new merchandise right here with improved options and presumably even revised designs relatively than simply repackaged variations of present earbuds with “trendy” charging applied sciences supported.
Will the AirPods Lite lastly get the inexperienced mild this yr?
Certainly one of these upgraded merchandise may very well be referred to as the AirPods Lite, probably changing the traditional second-gen “common” AirPods from 2019 as a brand new entry level for Apple’s own-brand true wi-fi earbuds household. This still-mysterious product could or is probably not one and the identical because the curiously named “AirPods Professional Lite” that made a bunch of headlines in 2020 with out ever commercially materializing.
The primary-ever AirPods Lite may very well be priced at the same stage as 2019’s AirPods 2 (pictured right here).
This time round, a launch appears just about etched in stone and comparatively fast-approaching, at the least in line with the within data gathered by analyst Jeff Pu and relayed to the general public by 9To5Mac. Sadly, Pu would not have a lot else to share moreover that aforementioned AirPods Lite moniker (which might be not assured simply but) and a imprecise goal for a launch “someday throughout the second half of 2024.”
What the analyst claims to know is the reasoning behind the purported existence of this low-cost pair of earbuds. Apparently, Apple is dealing with “muted demand” for present fashions, thus trying in the direction of a first-of-its-kind Lite system for an general AirPods manufacturing enhance later within the yr.
Whereas the corporate’s expectation is for each manufacturing and gross sales to develop as soon as the AirPods Lite are lastly launched, complete volumes may nonetheless shrink by 4 p.c year-over-year in 2024 to 55 million items. That can undoubtedly be sufficient to maintain Apple within the lead in international earbuds shipments for one more yr… earlier than presumably doing the identical in 2025 and past.
The AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2 are (probably) within the pipeline as nicely
Regardless of its {industry} supremacy, the Cupertino-based tech big is unlikely to be pleased with that gross sales decline (if it involves move), presumably planning one other addition to its wi-fi earbuds portfolio by the top of the yr. That is anticipated to be the first-ever non-Professional AirPods variant outfitted with energetic noise cancellation, and in line with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, it may convey a brand new design to the desk with a better concentrate on long-term consolation whereas naturally supporting USB-C charging.
The AirPods 3 (pictured right here) may additionally get a direct sequel in 2024.
It stays to be seen if this higher mid-range product will carry a simple AirPods 4 label or… one thing else totally, and when it comes to pricing, our greatest wager for the time being circles the $169 mark of the non-noise-cancelling AirPods 3.
The non-noise-cancelling AirPods Lite, in the meantime, may value as little as $99 in a bid to raised compete in opposition to the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds FE and Google’s Pixel Buds A-Collection.
Final however actually not least, Apple can also be anticipated (at the least by some tipsters) to lastly launch a brand new AirPods Max version in 2024. Sadly, this might enormously resemble 2020’s first era, merely changing its predecessor’s Lightning charging technique with USB-C know-how and barely bettering the already spectacular general audio high quality. In fact, it is most likely a tad early to know each doable improve and new characteristic of the AirPods Max 2, so let’s wait and proceed to hope for the very best.
Adrian, a cellular know-how fanatic because the Nokia 3310 period, has been a dynamic presence within the tech journalism area, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Developments, and Pocketnow earlier than becoming a member of PhoneArena in 2018. His experience spans throughout varied platforms, with a selected fondness for the range of the Android ecosystem. Regardless of the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood along with his work, Adrian’s ardour for tech tendencies, operating, and films retains him energized. His dedication to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic assortment of gadgets, saved from private chapter by his choice for ‘ample’ over ‘overpriced’.
