Apple is expected to launch the fourth-generation AirPods and a new AirPods Max later this year, despite no new leaks, according to a report. The tech giant is going through tough times as reports suggest that Apple Vision Pro buyers are returning the headset at an unusually high rate. However, this hasn’t affected any of its long-term plans and the company is reportedly planning to unveil two different variants of the new AirPods.
In his latest weekly Power On newsletter, Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman shared that Apple is on track to bring two new AirPods and a new AirPods Max to market in late 2024. This information comes as a much-needed update to their earlier report. October 2023, in which development was first mentioned. At the time, Gurman said that two variants of true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones would replace the second and third generation AirPods.
The report suggests that the earphones could be completely redesigned from top to bottom. It is said that it will have a shorter stem, new earbud design and a new look for the charging case. An upgrade in audio quality is also expected. Between the two variants, the base model may get a new earbud and charging case design, but it will lack active noise cancellation (ANC).
Meanwhile, the more expensive variant is said to feature ANC and a charging case speaker that can be triggered to play sound through the location tracking feature of the Find My app. Not only this, the report also states that Apple may introduce a new AirPods Pro with an updated chip in 2025, which could be the company’s H3 chipset.
Along with this, Apple is also expected to refresh its top-of-the-line AirPods Max. Unlike earphones, headphones are unlikely to see any major changes. According to Gurman, the new model may remove the Lightning port in favor of a USB Type-C port and get a wired audio playback feature. Additionally, they may come in new color options. The current generation AirPods Max are available in green, pink, silver, sky blue, and space gray.
