Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman reiterated his prediction, which we reported in December, that not one but two new sets of AirPods will launch in 2024. But now we have more details about the upcoming launch of the wireless earbuds.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman reveals that the new models will officially go into production in May, “paving the way for a release around September or October.” [2024].” This means they could appear alongside the iPhone 16, or at a second fall event if Apple decides to pursue this strategy.
Either way, this should be a big deal. On the one hand, AirPods fans – of which there are many – have been deprived of new versions in recent years. The only thing they got in 2023 was a USB-C case for the 2nd generation AirPods Pro, released in September 2022. And the last time a non-Pro model was released was in 2021.
On the other hand, the new models incorporate many changes compared to the status quo. Releasing a pair of non-Pro AirPods at the same time is a new strategy (designed to simplify the lineup, which currently presents customers with both the 2nd and 3rd generation AirPods, but no obvious way to tell them apart or understand why the latter cost more). And targeting the budget range, which the cheaper of the two models should do, is a new strategy.
The B768(E) and B768(M) models (the last letters of these codenames meaning entry and mid-range respectively) will see a physical redesign, improved fit and cases equipped with a USB-C port, but without Surprise, only the mid-level top model will get some noteworthy new features: active noise cancellation and Find My speakers in the case.
Gurman adds that there will also be new AirPods Pro, but not until 2025. He says, intriguingly, that these will feature “low-resolution cameras capable of scanning the environment around a user.”
For all the latest news and rumors, check out our regularly updated guide to the new AirPods. Or, if you can’t wait until fall, get a good deal on one of the current models with our roundup of the best AirPods deals.