Apple's Plan to Introduce New AirPods Later This Year Reportedly Delayed

Apple's plan to release an updated version of AirPods later this year has been delayed due to the global health crisis, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

AirPods3
This lines up with a recent report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said that mass production of third-generation AirPods will begin in the first half of 2021, followed by mass production of second-generation AirPods Pro between the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. Kuo also expects Apple's rumored high-end over-ear headphones to enter mass production at some point in mid-2020.

Kuo did acknowledge rumors of new AirPods coming in the second half of 2020, but he said they are "more likely to be the new Beats model." Last month, leaker Jon Prosser claimed that Apple was planning to release so-called "AirPods X" around September or October with a BeatsX-like design for sports and running.

Apple's second-generation AirPods launched in March 2019, while the AirPods Pro were released at the end of October.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Tag: Nikkei
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones

Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia. Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...

Top Rated Comments

roland.g Avatar
73 months ago
My AirPods are 2 years old. Bought them for my wife for Mother’s Day along with a Watch which she loves but she never used the AirPods. After 6 months in a drawer I started using them and have for 18 months or so. Because the mic on traditional wired headphones was on the right ear bud, I use that one for all my calls and rarely listen to music with them. Mostly just for calls and music on the occasional workout. After 18 months of use the right AirPod won’t hold much of a charge at all. The left is ok but not fantastic. Do I buy a replacement right AirPod to get a new battery or wait until a next generation. It is unfortunate these devices have a fairly short life span because of the inherent problem of a high use device relying on a tiny battery. Only so many charge cycles it can handle.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiVolt Avatar
73 months ago

My AirPods are 2 years old. Bought them for my wife for Mother’s Day along with a Watch which she loves but she never used the AirPods. After 6 months in a drawer I started using them and have for 18 months or so. Because the mic on traditional wired headphones was on the right ear bud, I use that one for all my calls and rarely listen to music with them. Mostly just for calls and music on the occasional workout. After 18 months of use the right AirPod won’t hold much of a charge at all. The left is ok but not fantastic. Do I buy a replacement right AirPod to get a new battery or wait until a next generation. It is unfortunate these devices have a fairly short life span because of the inherent problem of a high use device relying on a tiny battery. Only so many charge cycles it can handle.
My airpods are 2 years old, always used as a pair, and when one of them gets into the red with under 10%, the other still has 39-40%. The difference was already there maybe 15-20% when they weren't a year old, I went to Apple and they said it was "within spec". Bullshizzle if you ask me.

But yeah, such is life with expensive disposable products, because the headphone jack was so bad.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Yr Blues Avatar
73 months ago

My AirPods are 2 years old. Bought them for my wife for Mother’s Day along with a Watch which she loves but she never used the AirPods. After 6 months in a drawer I started using them and have for 18 months or so. Because the mic on traditional wired headphones was on the right ear bud, I use that one for all my calls and rarely listen to music with them. Mostly just for calls and music on the occasional workout. After 18 months of use the right AirPod won’t hold much of a charge at all. The left is ok but not fantastic. Do I buy a replacement right AirPod to get a new battery or wait until a next generation. It is unfortunate these devices have a fairly short life span because of the inherent problem of a high use device relying on a tiny battery. Only so many charge cycles it can handle.
Would be nice to have user replaceable battery. Unscrew the cap, stick one in. It's 2020. Must be the financial department still running things.

Companies don't really support renewable products. Planned obsolescence is still a thing.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roland.g Avatar
73 months ago

Assuming the AirPods were in the drawer with full battery, the battery capacity might have degraded slightly since they weren't used at all. " Conversely, if you store it fully charged for an extended period of time, the battery may lose some capacity, leading to shorter battery life." from: https://www.apple.com/hk/en/batteries/maximizing-performance/
Fairly common knowledge that AirPods are not living past 18-24 months. Some are getting longer but not the hoped for 4-5 years.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roland.g Avatar
73 months ago

My airpods are 2 years old, always used as a pair, and when one of them gets into the red with under 10%, the other still has 39-40%. The difference was already there maybe 15-20% when they weren't a year old, I went to Apple and they said it was "within spec". Bullshizzle if you ask me.

But yeah, such is life with expensive disposable products, because the headphone jack was so bad.
I agree but I don’t have an issue with the headphone jack. Use the lighting buds in my opinion if you will suffer wired. I’m not a walk around with Bluetooth in my ear kind of person but I have been using some sort of wireless or CarPlay or car Bluetooth for years. Bought the Dash by Bragi which were the first AirPods style wireless earbuds out and used them till I took over my wife’s AirPods. I just can’t stand pulling a tangled set of headphones out and I don’t want to hold the phone during calls. Usually I am talking and need my hands free or simply prefer the comfort of it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Baymowe335 Avatar
73 months ago

Pipeline too cluttered Timo?
Yeah, he’s probably really worried with all these speculative reports.

Tim actually has a clue what’s going on at Apple.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)