New AirPods Expected Later This Year as Suppliers Begin Component Shipments

At least seven Apple suppliers have reportedly kicked off circuit board-related shipments for upcoming Apple products, and this notably includes third-generation AirPods, which are expected to be released later this year.

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"Suppliers including Semco, LG Innotek, Kinsus, Unimicron, Nan Ya, Zhen Ding and AT&S have all kicked off their BT substrate shipments for Apple's next-generation products including the Apple Watch, AirPods and iPhone, which all adopt SiP modules," a paywalled DigiTimes report claimed today, citing industry sources.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu previously reported that the third-generation AirPods will be released later in 2021 with a similar design as the AirPods Pro, including shorter stems. This would mark the first update to the standard AirPods since March 2019, when the second-generation pair launched with the H1 chip for hands-free "Hey Siri" functionality and up to 50 percent more talk time than the original AirPods.

The second-generation AirPods are priced at $159 with a wired charging case and at $199 with a wireless charging case, and the third-generation AirPods would maintain a lower price than the AirPods Pro, which cost $249 regularly but are frequently on sale. It's likely that the third-generation AirPods will lack some higher-end features like active noise cancellation to maintain this lower price point.

As for the AirPods Pro, a second-generation pair with fitness tracking are rumored to launch next year, and they may have a more compact design similar to Apple's new Beats Studio Buds released earlier this month.

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

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Top Rated Comments

Khedron Avatar
53 months ago

My $17,000 credit limit is ready!!!


A limit is not a target!
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
53 months ago
Hope there is no price increase.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThisBougieLife Avatar
53 months ago
I hope they still make a model that doesn't use the silicone ear trips. I just don't prefer those.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DesignTime Avatar
53 months ago
If only Apple would make the batteries replaceable. I would think it’s possible for a company that “cares” about the environment.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
psxp Avatar
53 months ago
I just got the airpods Pros yesterday . They are pretty nice I must say.

To put this in context, this is my first ever set of airpods. I have had the cheap SoundPeats ones before. The integration and ease of use is a big factor with Apple products and these are no exception. Movies on Disney+ sound great.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KaliYoni Avatar
53 months ago
What, no bright colors for matching your iMac? No thinner, thinner, thinner? No new emojis and memojis? Just slightly "more compact" and increased functionality?

Sir Jony must be upset.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)