Will there be new AirPods in 2023? We check out rumors about the AirPods Lite and AirPods Max and discuss when AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 will come out.
Apple’s AirPods–which dropped with a bit of controversy and little interest back in 2016–hit some kind of inflection point around 2018, and suddenly became the hot thing. This was handily timed for the 2019 updates, as the 2nd-gen and then Pro versions of the AirPods launched to a newly receptive public and sold like the proverbial hotcakes. Then came the AirPods Max in late 2020, the 3rd-generation AirPods in 2021, and the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro in 2022.
Where next, then, for the AirPods? In this article we will look at all the different AirPods, evaluating when Apple might next update them and the new features that could arrive with the next generation. We’ll also discuss rumors that Apple is set to launch a new cheaper AirPods Lite—or AirPods SE—category. Will there be new AirPods in 2023?
There are currently three types of AirPods: The standard AirPods, the AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max. While Apple doesn’t update each category of AirPod on a yearly basis, it does tend to introduce a new set of AirPods each year. Taking a look at when each model was last updated can give us some clues as to when the new ones could arrive.
September 2017: 1st-gen AirPods launched
March 2019: 2nd-gen AirPods launched
October 2019: 1st-gen AirPods Pro launched
December 2020: 1st-gen AirPods Max launched
October 2021: 3rd-gen AirPods launched
September 2022: 2nd-gen AirPods Pro launched
Based on the above it would be logical to conclude that AirPods Max are next on the list. Now more than two and a half years old the AirPods Max cannot play Apple’s lossless audio, which is an omission that needs to be rectified. The technology to achieve this may not yet be available though.
Will we see new AirPods at the iPhone event in September? A rumor by Mark Gurman in August 2023 claims that Apple might update the AirPods with USB-C at the same time as the iPhone 15 moves from Lightning to USB-C. It’s not clear whether any new features would accompany the change. Apple might also update or retire the wired EarPods, which have a Lightning cable.
There have also been rumors that Apple plans to launch new AirPods Lite or AirPods SE headphones for some time, and in January 2023 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo described these as “more affordable AirPods (with Apple targeting a price of $99)”. AirPods Lite: Rumors and release date
Earlier in January 2023 analyst Jeff Pu also referenced Apple’s plans to introduce the AirPods Lite, a cheaper version of the standard AirPods. Like Kuo, he anticipates a price of $99. He added that Apple has no plans to update any of the current AirPods, so the AirPods Lite may be a way to stimulate interest in the existing lineup.
However, these new headphones may not arrive in 2023. Kuo had suggested we might have to wait until 2024 for this new AirPods category. In January 2023 Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted a series of comments and predictions related to Apple’s AirPods business, including a reference to the budget set of AirPods. However, he suggested that they may not ship until the second quarter of 2024 or even 2025.
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The next-generation AirPods will likely begin mass shipments in 2H24 or 1H25, including more affordable AirPods (with Apple targeting a price of $99) and new AirPods Max, which will be assembled by Luxshare ICT and Hon Teng.
Hopefully, the wait for new AirPods won’t be that long though. Code in iOS 16.4 apparently referenced new AirPods with the model number A3048. What isn’t clear is which AirPods this code relates to. It could be a new pair of AirPods Max as there a code for a case was also identified in the iOS update which could be a code for a new Smart Case.
