Angela Lang / CNET
Apple may be ready to launch a new pair of AirPods in March. New leaks suggest that Apple’s third generation of regular AirPods will share some features with the $ 249 AirPods Pro, such as space audio support. They may also have a shorter stem, interchangeable tips and a smaller charging case than the AirPods Pro. Here’s everything you need to know about the next AirPods 3.
AirPods 3 may look more like AirPods Pro
So far, we’ve had two generations of normal AirPods, the wireless headphones with the long stem that comes out of the ear. But a new leak from 52audio claims to show third generation headphones with a shorter stem, so overall the design looks more similar to that of the AirPods Pro.
The leaked image claiming to be AirPods 3.
52audio
The AirPods 3 can also borrow the AirPods Pro’s interchangeable ear tip design to provide a more comfortable fit in the ear than today’s AirPods, which simply stick to your ear. Some users have found that normal AirPods would fall easily while moving or running, so tips can help provide a safer fit. Although AirPods Pro has clickable rods, AirPods 3 can have touch surfaces to interact with the headphones.
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A previous Bloomberg report also said that AirPods 3 can share a design similar to AirPods Pro, adding that entry-level AirPods would lose active noise cancellation. So far, it is unclear whether the AirPods 3 would have a transparency mode, a way to channel outside sounds to make you more aware of what is around you.
Read More: 3 AirPods updates I want Apple to do this year
Will AirPods 3 also come with support for space audio?
That is the rumor. First introduced with the launch of iOS 14 on AirPods Pro and later on AirPods Max headphones, space audio uses accelerometers and gyroscopes to give a virtual surround sound effect when watching compatible movies and TV shows on an iPhone or iPad .
The 52audio report suggests that the battery life would remain the same as current second generation AirPods, lasting around 5 hours in total. The case would have an additional cost, just as it does now. In the leaked images, the case seems to divide the difference between the more square AirPods and the rectangular AirPods Pro.
The original design of the AirPods.
Óscar Gutiérrez / CNET
As for the sound quality, there are still no clear details on what to expect, although there are likely to be improvements in fidelity over regular AirPods. TF International Securities research analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a strong history of Apple rumors over the years, released a note in July 2020 stating that AirPods 3 would present a system package similar to AirPods Pro, the which means audio quality is likely to be comparable.
It is also safe to assume that other AirPods and AirPods Pro features, such as quick switching, will also arrive on AirPods 3.
When will AirPods 3 be released?
Apple has yet to announce an AirPod event or launch date. But many speculate that third-generation AirPods could be launched in March, which is a typical launch month for Apple. AirPods Pro and AirPods Max were both announced in a press release, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Apple did the same with AirPods 3.
It makes sense for AirPods 3 to be launched at the same $ 159 price tag as current AirPods. But it is unclear whether there will be a $ 199 wireless charging cover version as well, or whether that cover would be the standard option.