by Juli Clover
Apple plans to begin a major overhaul of its AirPods lineup starting next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The standard AirPods and the AirPods Max will see a refresh in 2024, while the AirPods Pro will be updated in 2025. For the AirPods and AirPods Pro, Apple will update the design of the earbuds and the case, while also improving audio quality.
When the AirPods are refreshed, Apple will phase out the second-generation and third-generation models, offering two fourth-generation models at different price points instead.
Both of the fourth-generation AirPods models will look like a cross between the current AirPods and the AirPods Pro, with Apple introducing shorter stems. The higher-end version of the standard AirPods will feature Active Noise Cancellation, a feature that has thus far been limited to the AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max.
Fit will be "improved," but it is unclear if Apple plans to add silicone ear tips. As for the case, it will gain speakers for Find My alerts, similar to the current AirPods Pro, and a USB-C charging port.
The AirPods Max will see the inclusion of a USB-C port for charging purposes instead of a Lightning port, and Apple will also debut new colors. No other notable features are expected at this time.
In 2025, the AirPods Pro will be updated with a new design and a faster chip, plus the earbuds could get some previously-rumored hearing health features. Rumors have suggested Apple is working on functionality that would let the AirPods Pro collect hearing data and better serve as a hearing aid replacement.
There is no clear word yet on when in 2024 and 2025 we might see AirPod refreshes, but Apple typically introduces new models in the latter half of the year around when new iPhones come out. Gurman says that the AirPods will come out "later next year" and the AirPods Max will come out "around the end of next year."
Related Roundups: AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max
Tags: Bloomberg, Mark Gurman
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Don't Buy), AirPods Pro (Buy Now), AirPods Max (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods
[ 107 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
Wokis
15 weeks ago
Hope they keep one variant without the rubber tips.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mcmehrtens
15 weeks ago
I have been biding my time for AirPods Max 2. Really hoping Gurman is right about 2024—and hoping Apple doesn't disappoint!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4
15 weeks ago
Finally, the rumored new Airpods Max
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NoGood@Usernames
15 weeks ago
Maybe they'll finish the design of the AirPod Max for the second generation so they're not just dull, nondescript aluminum shapes.
Every time I see the AirPods Max the first thing that pops into my head is: Ciabatta Rolls ?
They have the same general shape/size and I just can't shake that each time I see them!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zimmy68
15 weeks ago
I was scratching my head why they didn't make the original AirPods Max USB-C.
Made no sense to me at the time.
Now they are calling that a feature???
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SactoGuy18
15 weeks ago
Watch for the possibility that the next AirPods Max gets two U2 chips. Reason: Lossloss Audio transmission over Ultra Wideband (UWB), which has way more bandwidth than Bluetooth 5.3 using AptX or LDAC codecs.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or opinions, but I can provide you with information based on the search results you provided.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to overhaul its AirPods lineup starting next year. The standard AirPods and the AirPods Max will see a refresh in 2024, while the AirPods Pro will be updated in 2025. The design of the earbuds and the case will be updated, and audio quality will be improved. The fourth-generation AirPods models will have a design that combines elements of the current AirPods and the AirPods Pro, with shorter stems. The higher-end version of the standard AirPods will feature Active Noise Cancellation, a feature currently limited to the AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max. The fit will be improved, but it is unclear if silicone ear tips will be added. The case will gain speakers for Find My alerts and a USB-C charging port. The AirPods Max will also have a USB-C port for charging and will introduce new colors. The AirPods Pro will be updated with a new design, a faster chip, and potentially some hearing health features.
The specific release dates for the AirPod refreshes in 2024 and 2025 have not been mentioned in the search results. However, Apple typically introduces new models in the latter half of the year, around the time new iPhones are released.
I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
