Apple’s AirPods earphones – which dropped off with little interest in 2016 – hit something of an inflection point around 2018 and suddenly became the hot thing. (A igamesnews team member attributes this to a wave of memes. The rest of us are too old to understand.) This was timed for 2019 updates, while second-gen and then Pro versions AirPods were launched for a newly receptive audience and sold like the proverbial hot cakes. Then came the AirPods Max in late 2020, the third-generation AirPods in 2021, and the second-generation AirPods Pro in 2022.
What’s next, then, for the AirPods? In this article, we discuss two possibilities: the AirPods Lite, a rumored $99 AirPods, and the AirPods Pro Lite, a slightly contradictory combination of luxury and value. Let’s talk about what is likely to happen.
AirPods Lite or AirPods Pro Lite?
There has been talk for a few years of cheaper AirPods. Initially, rumors pointed to AirPods Pro Lite, with a Digitimes report (subscription required) in February 2020 claiming that such Apple headphones would arrive in 2020.
The Digitimes 2020 report was based on supply chain sources and claimed, “Apple, maintaining partnerships with supply chains in Taiwan and China, may require its Taiwanese partners to handle more production of iPad, Apple Watch, AirPod Pro Lite and next-generation iMac. devices to be released later, as the outbreak has heightened the risks of raw material supply shortages and shipment disruptions.
There was little other information about what these headphones offered, leading some to expect a cheaper version of the AirPods Pro, perhaps without active noise cancellation. Those headphones never appeared, indicating the somewhat obvious possibility that the AirPods Pro Lite were actually the AirPods (3rd gen), which eventually launched in late 2021.
But that’s not the last we’ll hear about the “Lite” AirPods. In early January 2023, analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong Intl Tech Research referred to AirPods Lite. This time, the Lite seems to refer to a cheaper version of the standard AirPods, with the price starting at $99.
Then, a few days later, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted a series of comments and predictions related to Apple’s AirPods business, including a reference to a budget set of AirPods: “including AirPods more affordable (with Apple targeting a price of $99).
As a concept, AirPods Lite makes more sense than AirPods Pro Lite: Lite seems to be nomenclature for entry-level, rather than somewhere in the middle.
AirPods Lite release date
We don’t have a firm date for the AirPods Lite, however, Ming-Chi Kuo (above) appears to be pointing to the second half or 2024 or the first half of 2025 as the timeline for when shipments begin.
Most of Apple’s AirPods launches have taken place in the fall, with the exception of the AirPods 2 introduction in March 2019.
How much will the AirPods Lite cost?
Ming-Chi Kuo refers to $99 as a price target. That compares to the AirPods 2, which are still being sold by Apple for $129 / £139. It’s likely that if Apple introduces AirPods Lite, it will stop selling older AirPods as a budget offering.
Apple’s desire to offer AirPods at this price would allow it to compete on the lower end of the market. This would actually be the SE offering for the AirPods, similar to the Apple Watch SE and Apple’s iPhone SE.
AirPods Lite specs and features
Again, we don’t know for sure and can only speculate. But it’s reasonable to assume that the features found in the standard AirPods will be missing, and the price will be lower to match.
However, we’re potentially talking about 2025, when standard AirPods may have features we currently find in AirPods Pro, while AirPods Pro may have features we don’t yet know about.
If you want to hear the latest rumors about Apple’s plans for 2023, the best place to start is our big annual roundup: Predictions of New Apple Products 2023.
Those interested in the current lineup should check out our roundup of the best AirPods deals for the latest bargains.
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