Following the introduction of AirPods Max in December, Apple reportedly has
updates on the way for the rest of its AirPods lineup in 2021. This year, we
expect Apple to introduce a new version of its incredibly popular AirPods
and AirPods Pro, bringing major changes to both of them. Here's everything
we know so far.
AirPods 3
First and foremost, Apple is expected to introduce a new version of its
entry-level AirPods with an all-new design. Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi
Kuo has reported that the new AirPods will feature a new form factor and
design "similar to AirPods Pro," though the analyst did not offer any
details.
The second-generation AirPods were <https://amzn.to/3bVHOnV> initially
released in March 2019, bringing "Hey Siri" support and Qi wireless
charging. The overall design and form factor of AirPods has stayed the same
since their original release in December 2016, so they are overdue for some
sort of visual redesign.
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/26/new-airpods-new-homepod-airpods-studio/>
Bloomberg reported in October that Apple is planning to launch new
entry-level AirPods with a shorter stem and replaceable ear tips,
corroborating Kuo's reporting that the design will be similar to the AirPods
Pro. This means that AirPods 3 would feature an in-ear design, rather than
resting on your ear like the current AirPods do.
If AirPods and AirPods Pro feature a similar design, what differentiates
them and helps Apple justify the higher-price of AirPods Pro? According to
Bloomberg, the AirPods would lack higher-end AirPods Pro features like noise
cancellation and transparency mode.
As far as a release, both Kuo and Bloomberg expect Apple to release AirPods
3 sometime in 2021. Pricing information is unclear, but at least one report
has suggested that
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/12/16/airpods-supplier-backs-reports-of-airpods-pr
o-lite-199-pricing-expected/> AirPods 3 will cost roughly 20% less than
AirPods Pro, which indicates a $199 price point.
Apple currently sells AirPods with wired charging case for $159 and AirPods
with wireless charging case for $199.
Meanwhile, Apple is also reportedly planning a new version of AirPods Pro in
2021, again with a completely new design. This time, Apple is reportedly
planning to make AirPods Pro look quite a bit like some of the competitors
on the market from Amazon and Samsung.
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/26/new-airpods-new-homepod-airpods-studio/>
Bloomberg has reported that the second-gen AirPods Pro will feature a "more
compact" design that removes the stem that current sticks out from the
bottom of the AirPods Pro. "A design in testing has a more rounded shape
that fills more of a user's ear," the report explained, likening the design
to offerings from Samsung and Amazon.
For those unfamiliar, <https://amzn.to/3oqoC53> the Amazon Echo buds
feature a stem-less design that is completely round and rests inside the
user's ear.
These changes, however, are not guaranteed. Apple is said to have faced
challenges removing the AirPods Pro stem while also still including features
like transparency mode, the H1 chip, and noise cancellations. As such, Apple
might settle on a less ambitious redesign of the AirPods Pro.
Another change to expect with AirPods Pro in 2021 is a redesigned charging
case. The redesigned AirPods Pro charging case will reportedly remain 21mm
thick, while it will be 46mm tall and 54mm wide. For comparison's sake, the
current <https://amzn.to/2LFzLQP> AirPods Pro charging case measures in at
45.2mm tall and 60.6mm wide.
One possibility here is that Apple is adjusting the design of the AirPods
Pro charging case to include support for MagSafe. Currently, AirPods Pro can
be charged on the MagSafe puck, but the charging case does not magnetically
attach to it. Apple would also have to redesign the charging case if it
plans to change the form factor of the earbuds themselves.
AirPods Pro 2 are expected to be priced at the same $249 price point as the
current AirPods Pro, and
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/09/airpods-pro-2-iphone-se-april/> reports have
suggested a release could come as soon as April.
9to5Mac's Take
Apple's decision to redesign the form factor of AirPods is likely to be
controversial. There are many people who actively prefer the AirPods design
over the in-ear fit of AirPods Pro. In fact, a poll of
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/12/16/airpods-design-poll/> 9to5Mac readers last
month indicated that 42% of readers prefer the AirPods design compared to
53% who prefer the AirPods Pro.
Nonetheless, it makes sense for Apple to unify the AirPods design and make
the entry-level AirPods more customizable. Currently, Apple refers to the
AirPods as having a "universal fit," which essentially just means they are
"one-size-fits-all."
Apple's decision to include different ear tip sizes in the box with AirPods
will likely make them appeal to a broader set of users who otherwise
wouldn't like the "universal" design.
On the other hand, the redesigned AirPods Pro certainly sound intriguing,
but again, design changes to headphones and earbuds are always bound to be
controversial. Removing the stem and going for a rounded design is a major
design change for AirPods Pro.
What's interesting is that we haven't yet heard any details about new
features for AirPods or AirPods Pro. All of the reports so far have been
based on supply chain sources, which often only have insight into the
physical design of products, not potential new software features.
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