AirPods 3 With Water Resistance Expected to Launch Later This Year

Apple plans to release third-generation AirPods with water resistance in late 2019, according to Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives. The first two generations of AirPods do not have IP-rated water or dust resistance.

airpods
In a research note this week, shared by Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Ives said the new AirPods will be released in time for the holiday shopping season this year and may also feature some unspecified design enhancements. AirPods have had the same design since the original pair launched in December 2016.

This info lines up with several rumors about new AirPods launching within the next year.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was first to reveal Apple's roadmap for AirPods. In February 2018, he said Apple was working on new AirPods with Hey Siri support, which launched in March 2019 after a delay. In June 2018, he reported that Apple is working on another pair of AirPods with water resistance and noise cancelation.

Gurman also reported that Apple is developing over-ear headphones with noise cancelation that could launch as early as this year. The headphones are said to be "studio quality" and will likely have Apple branding.

In April, reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said two new AirPods models will likely go into mass production between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, with one of the new models featuring an "all-new form factor design" and a "higher price" than the second-generation AirPods, which start at $159.

Both new AirPods models are said to adopt a new system-in-package design internally, which can improve assembly yield rates, save space internally, and reduce costs, but Kuo did not elaborate on outward-facing design changes.

Taiwanese website DigiTimes also expects third-generation AirPods with noise cancelation to launch by the end of the year.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Tag: Wedbush
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
hikawa phone grip stand apple%402x

Apple Launches Second Limited-Edition iPhone Accessory in a Month

Friday November 21, 2025 3:53 am PST by
Apple has begun selling the Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand, a new limited-edition iPhone accessory designed with accessibility in mind. Designed by LA-based Bailey Hikawa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple, the grip uses magnets to securely snap onto any iPhone with MagSafe. Apple says it can be removed with ease, and doubles as a stand with two different viewing...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday November 19, 2025 4:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
ipad black friday 2025

The Best Early Black Friday iPad Deals

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:20 am PST by
Black Friday is just over a week away, and iPad deals have finally started to flood in at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Below we're tracking discounts on every current generation iPad, including lowest-ever prices on M3 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro, plus steep markdowns on iPad and iPad mini. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a ...
watchos 26 workout app

Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way

Thursday November 20, 2025 7:01 am PST by
Apple Watch owners have been voicing their frustration online over changes to the Workout app that Apple introduced in watchOS 26, with many finding the redesigned interface makes starting exercises difficult and exasperating. When Apple launched watchOS 26 in September, the Workout app went from large, easily tapped workout tiles to a scrolling, corner-button interface. Instead of tapping a ...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:50 am PST by
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features. OLED Display The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Two More U.S. States Commit to Offering iPhone Driver's Licenses in Apple Wallet App

Thursday November 20, 2025 8:21 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Earlier this week, Illinois became the 13th state in the U.S. to offer the feature. Subsequently, we shared a list of additional states that are committed...
android iphone airdrop quickshare

iPhone Users Can Now AirDrop Files to Android Devices

Thursday November 20, 2025 9:47 am PST by
Google today announced a new cross-platform feature that allows for file sharing between iPhone and Android users. With AirDrop on the iPhone and QuickShare on Pixel 10 devices, there is a new file transfer function available. The file sharing option works on Apple devices that include iPhone, iPad, and Mac, along with the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Fold....

Top Rated Comments

TrenttonY Avatar
83 months ago
Sometimes Apple waits years to update certain products.
Sometimes Apple only waits months to update certain products.

Both are extremely annoying.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
83 months ago
I regret waiting so long to buy these; my first pair were gen1 purchased in February and they are without a doubt my favorite Apple product in a while. I bring them places I never bothered to wind up headphones and pack for.

If you tried to swim with these, wouldn't they fall out really easily?... and then get lost?
…and then you'd pass out, trying to dive for them, and then your spouse would find you emasculated and divorce you, taking the kids and house with her, you'd start hitting the bottle again, your work performance would drop, you'd get fired, and end up living on the streets for the rest of your short life.

**** these unreleased waterproof AirPods! :mad:
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bpeeps Avatar
83 months ago
I'd love Apple to come out with a pair of Airpods that have replaceable soft cushion earbuds. I'd purchase in a heartbeat. The current models just do not stay in my ear.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
webbuzz Avatar
83 months ago
Hope they offer other colors.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Blackstick Avatar
83 months ago
Glad I waited on the 2nd gen ones... hopefully my battery holds out.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sanlitun Avatar
83 months ago
Apple you can do this but you can't do black?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)