Rumor: AirPods Pro 2 to Launch in Third Quarter of 2022

Apple will release second-generation AirPods Pro in the third quarter of 2022, according to a new rumor allegedly based on supply chain sources.

AirPods Pro Gen 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 2 mockup based on rumors

Apple is developing second-generation AirPods Pro to follow the AirPods 3, with the new high-end earbuds set to come out in 2022, according to well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman and respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. However, neither Gurman nor Kuo have offered a more specific launch window for the next-gen earbuds.

The latest rumor comes from user @FronTron, who on Friday revised a previous claim made in June that "AirPods Pro 2" will be launched by the second quarter of next year "at least." The leaker now predicts Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro will arrive in Q3 2022. The third quarter traditionally encompasses a 92-day window between July 1 and September 30.

While @FronTron has a very limited track record for accurate leaks, the leaker told MacRumors that the tip comes directly from the supply chain and is based on the same source of theirs that predicted AirPods Pro 2 would arrive next year, several days before Kuo said the same thing in a June 30 investors note. While the latter appears to be true, the new information should still be taken with a grain of salt at this point in time.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that Apple is aiming to make the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 more compact by eliminating the short stem that sticks out from the bottom. Apple is said to be testing a "more rounded shape that fills more of a user's ear," but getting the hardware of the ‌AirPods Pro‌ into a chassis that's reduced in size has proven difficult, so the plan could be scrapped, cautions Gurman.

MacRumors received alleged images of the second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ that contradict the stemless design rumors, but they're from a source without an established track record and we can't verify their accuracy.

Gurman and Bloomberg's Debby Wu reported in May that Apple's second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ will include updated motion sensors with a focus on fitness tracking. Based on improvements made to the new AirPods 3, other features that are also likely to appear in the second-generation AirPods Pro include an IPX-4 rated water-resistant MagSafe Charging Case, and all-new skin-detect sensors replacing the existing optical sensors.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...
Wi Fi WiFi General Feature

iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone

Wednesday July 2, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads. As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked

Thursday July 3, 2025 5:40 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post, the leaker listed the battery capacities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max through to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh: iPhone 11 Pro Max: 3,969mAh iPhone 12 Pro Max: 3,687mAh...
iOS 18

Apple Releases Second iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Tuesday July 1, 2025 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible...
maxresdefault

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options...

Top Rated Comments

Onexy Avatar
48 months ago
The stems improve usability so you can properly grab them.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
incoherent_1 Avatar
48 months ago
At this point, I’ve seen analysts state that new AirPods “may” be released in each quarter from Q1 2020 till Q3 2022…

Throw enough at the wall and eventually something sticks.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
soaddk Avatar
48 months ago
They will NOT be stemless. The stem is for interacting with the pod. Since the regular airpods also has the new pinch-interaction apple will not go back to some kind of touch/tap interaction for the pros. As Onexy also points out, the stems act as a handle for adjusting the pods.

Just like Apple is using the notch as a design-element and something unique for apple the stem will also continue to be this.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KrisLord Avatar
48 months ago
I don’t get the dislike on Apple’s part for the stem.

I don’t see the appeal of other brands that are stemless.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rs-mac Avatar
48 months ago
Completely agree with others' points about not dropping the stem.

The one thing I'm hoping for in the 2nd gen is better battery life; even if that means a larger battery.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alpi123 Avatar
48 months ago
Just say at the September iPhone event lol
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)