Kuo: New AirPods Max and $99 AirPods to Launch as Early as Next Year

Mass shipments of second-generation AirPods Max and more affordable AirPods will likely begin in the second half of 2024 or the first half of 2025, according to the latest information shared by Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

AirPods Max Gen 2 Feature Dark Red 2
In a series of tweets today, Kuo said Apple is aiming for a $99 price for the more affordable standard AirPods. Currently, the $129 second-generation AirPods are the cheapest option from Apple, while the third-generation AirPods are priced at $169 with a Lightning charging case and at $179 with a MagSafe case. This is the second time lower-priced AirPods have been rumored in as many weeks following a prediction from analyst Jeff Pu.

Kuo did not offer any additional details about the new AirPods Max. Apple's premium over-ear noise canceling headphones were first released in December 2020 for $549, and we've previously outlined new features that would make sense for the next-generation pair, such as a USB-C port instead of Lightning, improved noise cancelation, longer battery life, new color options, a U1 chip for Precision Finding in the Find My app, and more.

Related Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Max
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

apparatchik Avatar
36 months ago
OMG these rumors, "as early as next year" on January 11th, essentially as early as two years from now, lol.
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
36 months ago
18-24 months out - a sign that he really doesn’t know what’s coming in the next 3-6 months, and everything that far out is pure guesswork
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smaffei Avatar
36 months ago
Everything seems like it's next year or beyond… Sounds like the company is not over exerting itself because it foresees troubling financial times ahead.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Danoc Avatar
36 months ago
.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
t0rqx Avatar
36 months ago
Apple’s product line is a mess. Next thing cheaper Airtags with a Find My range of your bluetooth protocol.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sdwaltz Avatar
36 months ago

Garbage product for premium prices.
Garbage product…have you ever used AirPods Max?

Single-best headphone experience I’ve ever had.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)