Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple may introduce its fourth-generation AirPods this year. The second-generation AirPods will likely be discontinued, and Gurman suggests that Apple will launch two new variants of the AirPods (4th Generation) globally. This new release could lead to a price drop for the third-generation AirPods, currently priced at Rs. 20,900 in India.
In his exclusive Power On newsletter (via 9to5Mac), Gurman mentions that Apple plans to unveil two new models of the AirPods (4th Generation) this year. One will be a basic model to replace the second-generation AirPods, while the other will take the place of the third-generation model released in 2021.
Apple is expected to keep the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) as its premium option, which features the H2 chip. This chip supports advanced features like Adaptive Audio, improved active noise cancellation (ANC), and Transparency mode.
Gurman also notes that both new TWS models will have a similar design. The main difference will be that the entry-level model will not include ANC, while the mid-tier model will. It remains uncertain if Apple will maintain the open-back design for these upcoming models, especially if the pricier version includes ANC.
The third-generation AirPods Pro, which will succeed the current AirPods Pro (2nd Generation), may receive an update later. Although specific details are not available, it is possible that new Apple Intelligence features could be added to enhance its competitiveness against products like Google’s Pixel Buds.
A previous report suggests that a new version of the first-generation AirPods Max is being developed, but it is unclear if it will be released in September. The rumored model might replace the Lightning port with a USB Type-C port, allowing for wired audio playback and supporting lossless audio on Apple Music.
