Apple Reportedly Working on New AirPods Pro, AirPods 5, and H3 Chip

[MNWildFan]

This is a) nonsense, and b) not a story. Apple is always working on the next version of every product, and they aren’t gonna release a new version of AirPods Pro a year (or less!) after the 3s.

Yeah, I'm not buying this either

Given that it was a few years between the 2nd gen APP and the 3rd gen ones, I think it's going to be a good while for the next generation

Heck, the 2nd gen ones actually got a good bit more capable in their lifetime as they had hardware in them the whole time for things like adaptive transparency and hearing aid support, but it wasn't until just last year that said functionality got flipped on via a software update

Also, speaking of updating them, why oh why out of all products do these things have to be so damn complicated to update the firmware/software of them??? Apple really needs to fix that, as it's so confusing and convoluted

 

[MNWildFan]

I already bought H1 USB-C AirPods Max, please don't update this fast lol

Yeah, it's going to be a bit though if the "upgrade" between the OG AirPods Max and this one to add a USB-C port in place of lightning was any indication

 

[cocky jeremy]

Hasn't this been a rumor since before the AirPod Pro 3's got released? It's why I didn't buy them.

 

[turbineseaplane]

If they keep using this horribly boosted sound signature they introduced with the app3, that'll be without me

Seriously apple, you had some of the best sound and you just went all in with extra bass and treble

I have no clue why they won't enable a system wide EQ per device in Settings.

I use SoundSource on my Mac to EQ per headphone/earbud (even AirPod models!) and it's fantastic.

It feels so outdated to be trying to do "one sound for everyone".

People have different preferences and needs Apple -- let's please try to accommodate that more.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Since they have all this extra + hanging around after rebranding the Apple TV+ to simple Apple TV, they’re no doubt gonna call em AirPods Pro 3+.

 

[loyalraccoon]

Mark Gurman is a hack who is surely laughing at the tech sites that actually regurgitate this nonsense. Here’s another scoop for you: water is wet. Wanna link to MY subscription newsletter?

 

[titanium69]

.

 

[theloon]

5 wow omg how can this be ! Next we will be told there will be a 6 !!
Come on Apple just make your AI not be such a disaster and for it not be an industry joke any longer...

 

[Rychiar]

This is a) nonsense, and b) not a story. Apple is always working on the next version of every product, and they aren’t gonna release a new version of AirPods Pro a year (or less!) after the 3s.

they did with the pro 2s....

 

[jarman92]

they did with the pro 2s....

The Pro 2s were released 3 years after the Pros. The Pro 3s were released 3 years after the Pro 2s.

 

[Rychiar]

The Pro 2s were released 3 years after the Pros. The Pro 3s were released 3 years after the Pro 2s.

Pro 2s with USBC and lossless audio came a year after.

 

[jarman92]

Pro 2s with USBC and lossless audio came a year after.

True, though that was an incredibly minor update (and the "lossless audio" was and is only when paired with a Vision Pro).

 

[Rychiar]

True, though that was an incredibly minor update (and the "lossless audio" was and is only when paired with a Vision Pro).

the AirPods Pro 3s are an incredibly minor update as well though...

 

[Happy_John]

the AirPods Pro 3s are an incredibly minor update as well though...

That's how incremental updates work.

 

[turbineseaplane]

the AirPods Pro 3s are an incredibly minor update as well though...

After my testing of them, I find them to be very much a lateral move with a "fit" change that's only subjectively an improvement.

 

[Rychiar]

That's how incremental updates work.

im just saying its not that different from the AirPods Pro 2 second gen getting usb and lossless audio. They could always slip out a new 3 with an h3.

 

[jarman92]

the AirPods Pro 3s are an incredibly minor update as well though...

Are they? The ANC is significantly better, the audio is arguably better, and they now do HR. That's more of an upgrade than the first gen to the second.

 

[Klagarde]

After releasing AirPods Pro 3 last month, Apple is already working on the next AirPods Pro, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

It is unclear if the new AirPods Pro would be branded as AirPods Pro 4, or if they would be considered an updated version of AirPods Pro 3. Gurman did not take a position, opting to describe them as a "new version" of the "high-end in-ear buds."

AirPods Pro 2 were updated with a USB-C charging case and a few other tweaks a year after they launched, without receiving a name change.

Last month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the AirPods Pro would receive "more significant" hardware upgrades next year, including at least one tiny infrared camera. A leaker on Chinese platform Weibo subsequently claimed that these would be a higher-end AirPods Pro 3 option, rather than AirPods Pro 4. This would be similar to the standard AirPods 4, which are available in two configurations, with and without active noise cancellation.

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said Apple is developing its next-generation H3 chip for wireless audio, with improved sound quality and lower latency. It would make sense for this chip to be included in the next AirPods Pro, but Gurman did not explicitly mention which AirPods models the chip will debut in, or when.

Apple is also developing two tiers of AirPods 5, according to Gurman.

AirPods Pro 3 offer heart rate monitoring during workouts, but Gurman does not anticipate this feature extending to the AirPods 5. He said Apple is planning several new health features for future AirPods, though, such as temperature sensing.

Gurman reiterated that Apple is considering adding cameras to at least some AirPods models. Kuo previously said AirPods with infrared cameras would support in-air gestures, and enable deeper integration between AirPods and the Vision Pro.

AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 are equipped with the H2 chip, which debuted in the AirPods Pro 2. The over-ear AirPods Max still have an H1 chip.

Kuo previously said new AirPods Max would enter mass production in 2027.

​

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Working on New AirPods Pro, AirPods 5, and H3 Chip

Makes perfect sense, the airpod devices are easy to manufacture and ship, have high profit margin, are better then the competition with good value, are a clear Apple product, gets and keeps people in the ecosystem.

When you see people on the street with white earbuds chances are “that dude has an iPhone”…

 

[Rychiar]

Are they? The ANC is significantly better, the audio is arguably better, and they now do HR. That's more of an upgrade than the first gen to the second.

the foam tips are probably responsible for a lot of that.