A usually accurate analyst expects to see a new version of the regular AirPods during Tuesday’s iPhone event. He also expects that Apple will continue to sell the current models.
According to a new report from TF Securities’ analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the third generation AirPods will be presented alongside the iPhone 13 at the event on 14 September (read how to watch the iPhone event). This is pretty much what every is expecting – but there is also new information shared by Kuo.
Kuo believes that when Apple starts to sell the new third generation AirPods it will also continue to sell the second generation AirPods.
What isn’t clear is whether Apple will drop the price of the old AirPods. That would be Apple’s usual practice. For example, when Apple introduces a new iPhone it continues to sell the old model at a lower price.
Apple currently a number of different AirPods:
- AirPods with Charging Case £159/$159
- AirPods with Wireless Charging Case £199/$199
- AirPods Pro £249/$249
- AirPods Max £549/$549
So we could see the price drop for the AirPods with Charging Case and the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case, perhaps starting at £129/$129.
Unfortunately there is another possibility: Apple may remove the AirPods with Charging Case from the line up and drop the price of the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case to £159/$159. Then the new AirPods 3 would come in at £199/$199, just as the Wireless model did before.
The worst case scenario would be if Apple introduced the AirPods 3 at a higher price, and kept the AirPods 2 on at the same price.
We really hope that Apple will drop prices across the line up – the price of the AirPods Max is embarrassingly inflated.
The AirPods update is long overdue: Apple introduced the wireless headphones in September 2016 and they ultimately became highly sought-after. In spring 2019 Apple introduced the slightly improved second generation AirPods.
The design of the AirPods is rumoured to be changing – they will look more like the AirPods Pro, however the active noise cancellation (ANC) of the AirPods Pro will not come the new model. The silicone ear tips may also be missing.
Via 9to5Mac.
Author: Karen Haslam, Editor
Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld almost two decades ago.
Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.