Apple may be planning to update its popular AirPods wireless headphones later this year. Analyst Jeff Pu reports that the company is looking to release a more affordable model. Poo’s report adds that a subsidiary of Foxconn will handle production, and production is expected to ramp up at the India plant by the end of 2024.
These rumors coincide with previous predictions by Bloomberg’s Marc Gurman, who suggested that two updated versions of the standard AirPods would appear in September or October.
They are said to be codenamed B768E and B768M. The former is called “entry-level”, while the latter may mean “mid-level”.
Gurman noted that these new models will feature an improved design for a better fit, improved sound quality, and a charging case with a USB-C connector.
More expensive upgraded models may also have features such as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and a speaker in the charging case to help you track your location with the Find My Location feature.
It is not known whether the budget model mentioned by Pu will match Gurman’s prediction for the entry-level 4th generation AirPods. However, the addition of a more affordable price point to Apple’s audio lineup seems likely.
Gurman also said that mass production of AirPods 4 will begin in May with the help of partners GoerTek and LuxShare Precision, with a likely launch alongside the iPhone 16 series.
In addition, there are rumors of an update to the premium AirPods Max model in the last quarter of 2024. However, expectations suggest minor changes, with Gourmet citing a USB-C charging port as the main update, as well as the possibility of new color options. The colors currently available are green, pink, silver, sky blue, and space gray.
