Kuo: Second-Generation AirPods Pro to Launch in Second Half of 2022

Apple plans to release second-generation AirPods Pro in the second half of 2022, well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a tweet today.

airpods pro black background
While the second-generation AirPods have remained available to purchase since Apple released third-generation AirPods last year, Kuo said Apple may discontinue the original AirPods Pro when the new ones are released later this year. Apple announced the AirPods Pro on October 30, 2019, making them nearly two and half years old.

Kuo also said that demand for the third-generation AirPods is "significantly weaker" than for the second-generation AirPods, resulting in Apple reducing its third-generation AirPods orders from suppliers by at least 30% in the second to third quarter of this year.


Kuo has previously claimed that the second-generation AirPods Pro will feature a "significantly upgraded" wireless chip compared to the H1 chip in the original AirPods Pro. The chip powers audio-related functions like active noise cancellation, and improvements to this technology could result in improved battery life for longer listening time per charge. Kuo also expects the new AirPods Pro to support lossless audio on Apple Music.

Kuo also previously claimed that the new AirPods Pro charging case will be able to emit a sound to help users find it when misplaced. It is likely the charging case will also have water resistance like the third-generation AirPods charging case.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu have previously reported that Apple has tested a more compact design for the new AirPods Pro that would eliminate the stems that drop below the earbuds. If this ends up being the final design, the new AirPods Pro could look similar to Apple's Beats Studio Buds released last year.

Gurman and Wu also claimed the new AirPods Pro would feature motion sensors for fitness tracking capabilities alongside the Apple Watch.

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

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Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
35 months ago
Can we please get AirPods Pro in new colors? They will sell like hot cakes.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shalev Avatar
35 months ago
DO NOT REDESIGN them, they are perfect as they are.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TimWillz Avatar
35 months ago
Lossless audio support - take my money.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Justin Cymbal Avatar
35 months ago
I’m definitely planning to get these later this year

I hope that Apple improves the noise cancellation in the 2nd gen version

Hopefully Apple adds additional health features to this year’s version as well
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jicon Avatar
35 months ago
Water resistant case would be nice. I had left my case and airpods v1 in a pocket that got washed, and no longer charged. Fortunately we had moved in to a house we bought two months earlier, and upon pulling weeds out of the grass, inadvertently speared an old charging case from the previous owner, or visitor that worked like a charm still. Unbelievable luck unearthing that, and still have it work.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NewUsername Avatar
35 months ago
I understand the AirPods 2 still sell well. For the average consumer, the difference between AirPods 2 and 3 is close to nothing, but the price difference is significant. And they definitely won’t care that AirPods 3 comes with a USB-C cable instead of a USB-A cable, or that the AirPods 3 case has wireless charging.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)