$99 AirPods may ship as early as subsequent 12 months alongside next-gen AirPods Max

The subsequent technology of Apple’s standard AirPods headphones may launch within the second half of 2024, or first half of 2025, based on a brand new prediction from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The lineup will reportedly embrace a extra reasonably priced pair of AirPods priced at $99, in addition to a brand new mannequin of Apple’s over-ear AirPods Max headphones (launched in 2020).

The rumored $99 AirPods would undercut the value of Apple’s present most reasonably priced AirPods (its second-generation mannequin) by $30. Meanwhile, the third-generation AirPods at present promote for $169 for a mannequin that prices by way of a wired Lightning cable solely, or for $179 with a case that may cost wirelessly by way of MagSafe. Reducing the value of the entry-level AirPods mannequin mirrors what Apple did with its Apple TV lineup final 12 months, when it launched a brand new set-top field that was $50 cheaper than its beforehand most reasonably priced model.

Kuo beforehand reported that Apple can be launching a brand new USB-C charging case for “all” its AirPods fashions in 2023, round a 12 months sooner than he’s now predicting the arrival of the next-gen headphones. But the 2 studies don’t essentially contradict one another. After all, Apple may refresh its AirPods charging circumstances in 2023 however depart the precise earbuds unchanged till 2024 or 2025.