Apple’s AirPods headphones — which launched in 2016 without much interest — hit something of a tipping point around 2018 and suddenly became a hit. (One member of the Macworld team attributes this to a wave of memes the rest of us are too old to understand.) This was timed well for the 2019 updates, as the second gen and then the Pro versions The AirPods hit the market and sold like the proverbial hot cakes. Then came the AirPods Max in late 2020, the third-gen AirPods in 2021, and the second-gen AirPods Pro in 2022.
So where next for the AirPods? In this article, we’re going to take a look at all the different AirPods and assess when Apple might next update them and what new features might come with the next generation. We will also discuss rumors that Apple will launch a new, cheaper AirPods Lite or AirPods SE category.
Will there be new AirPods in 2023?
There are currently three types of AirPods: the standard AirPods, the AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max. While Apple doesn’t update every AirPod category annually, it does typically introduce a new set of AirPods every year.
- September 2017: Launch of the 1st generation AirPods
- March 2019: Launch of the 2nd generation AirPods
- October 2019: Launch of the 1st generation AirPods Pro
- December 2020: Launch of the 1st generation AirPods Max
- October 2021: Launch of the 3rd generation AirPods
- September 2022: Launch of the 2nd generation AirPods Pro
Based on the above, it would be logical to conclude that AirPods Max are next on the list. Now more than two years old AirPods Max can’t play Apple’s lossless audio, which is an omission that needs to be addressed. However, the technology to achieve this may not be available yet.
Instead of updating the AirPods Max in 2023, Apple could introduce a new AirPods category instead. There have been rumors for a while that Apple is planning to launch new AirPods Lite or AirPods SE headphones. In January 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo described these as “more affordable AirPods (with Apple targeting $99)”.
In early January 2023, analyst Jeff Pu also referenced Apple’s plans to launch the AirPods Lite, a cheaper version of the standard AirPods, with a price starting at $99. He added that Apple has no plans to update any of the current AirPods, so the AirPods Lite could be a way to spark interest in the existing lineup.
However, Kuo had suggested that we might have to wait until 2024 for this new AirPods category.
Hopefully the wait for new AirPods won’t be that long though. Code in iOS 16.4 apparently references it new AirPods with model number A3048. What is not clear is which AirPods this code refers to. It could be a new pair of AirPods Max, as a case code was also identified in the iOS update, which could be a code for a new smart case.
AirPods Lite release date
In January 2023, Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted a series of comments and predictions related to Apple’s AirPods business, including a Reference to AirPods budget. However, he suggested they might not start shipping until the second quarter of 2024 or even 2025.
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The next-gen AirPods will likely begin bulk shipping in 2H24 or 1H25, including cheaper AirPods (with Apple targeting a price of $99) and new AirPods Max assembled by Luxshare ICT and Hon Teng.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) January 12, 2023
We really hope that the wait for this alleged AirPods Lite launch won’t be that long. Since most AirPods launch in the fall, we’re hoping they’ll launch alongside the in September 2023 iPhone 15.
AirPods Max 2 release date
The AirPods Max will be three years old by winter 2023 and an update is due.
In May 2022, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote in a newsletter that new AirPods Max could be imminent. He wrote: “Watch out for an AirPods Max refresh with new colors (and, we hope, a price drop – $550 is absurd for these headphones)”. No update came in 2022, and according to Ming-Chi Kuo’s tweet above, the new AirPods Max may not arrive until late 2024 at the earliest.
AirPods 4 release date
The third generation AirPods arrived in October 2021. This update came two and a half years after the launch of the second generation. We could wait until 2024 for an update for the AirPods, although it could be even longer if Kuo is right and the new Max and Lite models don’t launch until 2024 or 2025.
AirPods Pro 3 release date
The second generation AirPods Pro arrived in September 2022. This update came three years after the launch of the first generation. On that timescale, we could wait until 2025 for an update for the AirPods Pro, but the wait could be even longer.
How much do new AirPods cost?
The AirPods and AirPods Pro are unlikely to see a price change, although the Pricing outside of the US may be subject to change eventually, as Apple has done with every other product.
Apple’s current pricing structure for its headphones is as follows:
- Apple Earbuds $19/£19
- 2nd Gen AirPods $129 / £139
- 3rd Gen AirPoids (Lightning) $169 / £179
- 3rd Gen AirPoids (MagSafe) $179/£189
- AirPods Pro 2nd Gen $249/£249
- AirPods Max $549 / £549
The AirPods Max could see a price cut based on Mark Gurman’s suggestion from Bloomberg above – although that seemed more of a hope than a hint.
Ming-Chi Kuo names $99 as the price target for the AirPods Lite. This compares to the AirPods 2, which are still sold by Apple at $129/£139. It’s likely that when the AirPods Lite are launched, Apple will stop selling the older AirPods as a budget offering. Apple’s desire to offer AirPods at this price point would allow the company to compete at the lower end of the market. They would effectively be the SE offering for the AirPods, much like Apple’s Apple Watch SE and iPhone SE.
We have a summary of the The best wireless earbuds for iPhone and the best wired headphones if you want to consider alternatives to AirPods.
New AirPods specs and features
One area for improvement is playability Apple’s high-resolution lossless audiowhich the company introduced in June 2021. Bluetooth headphones — including all of Apple’s AirPods — can’t play audio at that resolution.
AirPods max
The AirPods Max, despite their high price, are currently unable to play Apple’s high-resolution lossless audio. An update in 2023 brought some capacity to play high-resolution audio on these headphones when used in wired format. Users can connect the AirPods Max via the Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable and enjoy better sound quality, but Apple states that “given the analog-to-digital conversion in the cable, playback will not be completely lossless.”
Apple will undoubtedly look for a way to bring this technology to the AirPods Max.
AirPods Lite
There has been talk of cheaper AirPods for several years. Initially, the rumors pointed to AirPods Pro Lite, with a Digitimes report (Subscription required) in February 2020 and claimed such Apple headphones would come in 2020.
AirPods Pro Lite would be a contradictory sounding combination of luxury and value. It seems more likely that the AirPods Pro Lite this report is referring to were the AirPods 3, which arrived in late 2021.
If these new AirPods are rumored to be priced around $99, then they likely have budget features. To get an idea of what to expect, we could look at the 2nd generation AirPods, which are still on sale but will likely be replaced by the new budget model. Another comparison could be with the Beats Flex (Beats is a subsidiary of Apple).
If you want to hear the latest rumors about Apple’s plans for 2023, the best place to start is with our roundup: New Apple products 2023.
If you are interested in the current range, you should take a look at our summary The best AirPods deals for the latest bargains.
