We had not listened to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo for several weeks, but the Asian expert has spoken again in the last hours in full preview of WWDC 2020. This time he has referred to AirPods 3 or third-generation AirPods, as we want to call them. It has ventured not only to give a possible release date, but has detailed a possible design change after two generations with an identical design.
Some AirPods 3 with a very ‘Pro’ design
No one doubts the popularity of Apple‘s AirPods and their already classic design, similar to wired but totally wireless. In fact it is very common to see dozens of third-party imitations simulating this recognizable design. However, there were a good number of users who, due to their hearing characteristics, were not comfortable with the shape of these headphones, so the AirPods Pro were a blessing in terms of their possible use. Precisely based on this, Apple could be preparing a third generation with an in-ear design identical or very similar to the ‘Pro’ model launched in 2019.
Few more details are known about it, as Kuo hasn’t given too many details about them. According to him, the launch date would be located in 2021. Nothing is known about their characteristics and whether they will incorporate the popular noise cancellation and ambient sound, since the design invites it. In any case, it seems unlikely if we consider that this is a clear element of differentiation from the highest range. Probably an improvement in autonomy and a new chip are more than enough to continue leading the sales ranking of headphones.
AirPods Studio and more, for this year?
With this possible release date of the AirPods 3 we would be seeing that Apple would leave this year empty as far as the normal headphones of the brand are concerned. That does not mean that we do not go to see the company’s headphones. In fact, it may be one of the busiest years in its catalog. We would start with the Beats brand headphones, of which some have already been released such as the Powerbeats 4.
The company intends to boost the ‘AirPods’ brand with more headphone styles, such as headbands that are already known as AirPods Studio. These would come directly to compete with high-end headphones like those of Sony or Bose, but in true Apple style and with full integration with its ecosystem. There has even been talk of some AirPods X that would come to be a “Lite” version of the AirPods Pro, but about which not much is known either and are intermingled with this latest information from the third generation.
The release date of all these is somewhat confusing, since it has been talking about them for months and yet no greater references have been found than some icons and data obtained from the iOS code. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has also not favored Apple and other companies to launch, so it is understood that the schedule could be very fuzzy and even the company itself does not know exactly when they can launch them to the market. We must be alert to any new information that may arise in this regard.
