Apple’s AirPods line of headphones, like its tablets, will soon have gone an entire calendar year without updates or new products (unless you count the ArPods Pro USB-C case). It’s less shocking than with the iPad (there were no new AirPods in 2017 and 2018 either), but many Apple fans remain rather disappointed that the AirPods Max in particular didn’t receive no attention in 2023.
However, according to a new report, Apple intends to correct this oversight next year. There will be an updated version of the AirPods Max in 2024, according to the latest episode of Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, as well as two new editions of standard AirPods. According to Gurman, this is part of an attempt to simplify a set of products that have “left consumers confused about which AirPods to buy.”
The problem, he explains, is that Apple currently sells two separate generations of non-Pro AirPods (the 2nd generation at $129 and the 3rd generation at $179), but can’t sufficiently convince customers why the The most expensive pair is worth the biggest expense. Buyers assume that the 3rd generation must have better features, but don’t see how, and end up switching to the cheaper option (or even going with a different brand entirely), leaving revenue on the table. This makes Apple sad.
Next year, Gurman predicts, Apple will completely phase out the non-Pro AirPods line and replace it with two new models, the most expensive of which will gain a series of new features, such as active noise cancellation, which are currently limited to AirPods Pro. (He’s not interested in branding. Could the company do something similar to its latest Apple Pencil and use generational branding on the most expensive model only? We could get “AirPods (4th generation)” and “AirPods SE,” for example. ) The two new AirPods will switch from Lightning to USB-C and benefit from a redesign of the earbuds and charging case.
Compared to this redesign, the updated AirPods Max may seem rather disappointing. According to Gurman, this product hasn’t achieved enough sales to warrant a major redesign, so the 2024 model will only be different with new color finishes and a USB-C charging port. This seems unlikely to spur a big increase in sales, but we may be underestimating the impact of, say, yellow.
That leaves the AirPods Pro, which received an update as recently as fall 2022 and needs much less attention than other AirPods. Gurman says a refresh is planned, but not before 2025. He says early plans for that launch “focus on comfort.”
You can stay up to date with all the latest news and rumors with our new AirPods superguide.
