Kuo: AirPods 3 to Launch in First Half of 2021 With Similar Design as AirPods Pro

Apple plans to launch third-generation AirPods with a form factor design "similar to AirPods Pro" in the first half of 2021, according to the latest research note from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, obtained by MacRumors.

AirPods3
Introduced in November 2019, the AirPods Pro feature an in-ear design with three sizes of soft, flexible silicone tips included in the box, along with shorter stems below the ear. AirPods Pro also have several upgraded features over regular AirPods, including active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and water and sweat resistance.

The current AirPods lineup includes second-generation AirPods with a wired charging case for $159, second-generation AirPods with a wireless charging case for $199, and AirPods Pro with a wireless charging case for $249.

Kuo also reiterated that iPhone 12 models will not include EarPods in the box, which he believes will help boost AirPods shipments into 2021. He also expects AirPods shipments to benefit from some kind of promotion program launching in the second half of 2020 — perhaps allowing customers to purchase AirPods at a discount alongside the iPhone 12?

Related Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday November 6, 2025 11:12 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the U.S., according to its website. Maximum values for most devices either decreased or saw no change, but the iPad Air received a slight bump. ...
Liquid Glass General Feature

Apple Shares Liquid Glass Design Gallery

Thursday November 6, 2025 2:45 pm PST by
Apple is promoting the new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26, showing off the ways that third-party developers are embracing the aesthetic in their apps. On its developer website, Apple is featuring a visual gallery that demonstrates how "teams of all sizes" are creating Liquid Glass experiences. The gallery features examples of Liquid Glass in apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. Apple...
airtag purple

Apple's Website Lists AirTag 4-Pack at Shockingly Low Price [Updated]

Friday November 7, 2025 6:40 am PST by
Apple's online store in the U.S. is suddenly offering a pack of four AirTags for just $29, which is the same price as a single AirTag. This is likely a pricing error, and it is unclear if orders will be fulfilled. Apple has not discounted the AirTag four-pack in any other countries that we checked. Delivery estimates are already pushing into late November to early December, suggesting...
Early Black Friday Deals 1

The Best Early Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and More

Saturday November 8, 2025 6:16 am PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday November 3, 2025 5:54 am PST by
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple released iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3. The update includes a handful of new features and changes, including the ability to adjust the look of Liquid Glass and more. Below, we outline iOS 26.1's key new features. Liquid Glass Toggle iOS 26.1 lets you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. In the Settings app, under Display...
ikea smart home devices

IKEA Debuts 21 HomeKit-Compatible Smart Bulbs, Sensors, and Controls

Thursday November 6, 2025 4:08 pm PST by
IKEA today announced the upcoming launch of 21 new Matter-compatible smart home products that will be able to interface with HomeKit and the Apple Home app. There are sensors, lights, and control options, all of which will be reasonably priced. Some of the products are new, while some are updates to existing lines that IKEA previously offered. There are a series of new smart bulbs that are...
Apple fitness plus feature

Future of Apple Fitness+ 'Under Review'

Sunday November 9, 2025 5:30 am PST by
The future of Apple Fitness+ is "under review" amid a reorganization of the service, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple Fitness+ remains one of the company's "weakest digital offerings." The service apparently suffers from high churn and little revenue. Nevertheless, Fitness+ has a small, loyal fanbase that...
maxresdefault

In-Depth iPhone Battery Experiment Pits Slow Charging Against Fast Charging

Friday November 7, 2025 1:19 pm PST by
HTX Studio this week shared the results from a six-month battery test that compared how fast charging and slow charging can affect battery life over time. Using six iPhone 12 models, the channel set up a system to drain the batteries from five percent and charge them to 100 percent over and over again. Three were fast charged, and three were slow charged. Another set of iPhones underwent...
apple watch se 3 always on

Apple to Remove iPhone-Apple Watch Wi-Fi Sync in EU With iOS 26.2

Thursday November 6, 2025 4:37 am PST by
Apple in iOS 26.2 will disable automatic Wi-Fi network syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch in the European Union to comply with the bloc's regulations, suggests a new report. Normally, when an iPhone connects to a new Wi-Fi network, it automatically shares the network credentials with the paired Apple Watch. This allows the watch to connect to the same network independently – for...

Top Rated Comments

480951 Avatar
70 months ago
I find it difficult to believe Apple would discontinue the design that doesn’t go in-ear (or not offer both) as that’s the AirPods design that is literally everywhere and what some people prefer. I think it’s more likely they offer both choices to customers.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eriamjh1138@DAN Avatar
70 months ago
I'm on my second pair of airpods and the first are garbage after 2 years. Battery life has gone down the drain.

Not sure I'm so interested in spending $150 every 2 years for them.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jezbd1997 Avatar
70 months ago

I find it difficult to believe Apple would discontinue the design that doesn’t go in-ear (or not offer both) as that’s the AirPods design that is literally everywhere and what some people prefer. I think it’s more likely they offer both choices to customers.
I agree, I only have the 2nd gen and I’ve heard people still prefer the regular ones over the pro in comfort. I’ve tried in ear headphones before and while audio quality is better (expected) there’s compromises
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmilo Avatar
70 months ago

I agree, I only have the 2nd gen and I’ve heard people still prefer the regular ones over the pro in comfort. I’ve tried in ear headphones before and while audio quality is better (expected) there’s compromises
i can agree with that. I have the first gen Air Pods and also the Pro and I wore the 1st gen for the first time in forever recently and I was like DAMN it really feels you have nothing in your ears, while I have to keep re-adjusting my IN EAR AirPods all the time ironically. Also the Bass was a lot more noticeable. I was almost like shoot, why did I even buy the Pro lol
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KrisLord Avatar
70 months ago

I find it difficult to believe Apple would discontinue the design that doesn’t go in-ear (or not offer both) as that’s the AirPods design that is literally everywhere and what some people prefer. I think it’s more likely they offer both choices to customers.
I agree, I don’t get the logic of moving to the pro design.
I got the pro for my birthday and they’re good quite a different experience to the normal AirPods.

I was flying regularly when I expressed an interest in the pros to my wife whereas now I’m stuck WFH where there’s far less need for ANC.

I find wearing both pros and holding a call rather off putting as your voice sounds odd (to yourself, not others on the call)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wahlstrm Avatar
70 months ago
I had the 1st version for about 2 years or so before I broke them while trying to clean them.
Bought the PRO´s and if I ever buy AirPods again I will buy the non PRO. I liked it a lot better.
The ANC on the PRO´s are more or less "just on paper" and main point of AirPods is the ease of use.
The PRO´s have never felt as easy and effortless to use as to standard version.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)