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New AirPods Expected to Launch in Third Quarter as Production Gets Underway

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Taiwanese supplier ASE Technology has started production of optical sensors for next-generation AirPods slated to launch in the third quarter of 2021, according to industry sources cited in a paywalled DigiTimes story preview today.

airpods-3-1.jpg

The full report has yet to be published, so there are no further details at this time, but the timeframe lines up with information shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who earlier this month claimed that third-generation AirPods will enter mass production in the third quarter of the year. The quarter runs from July through September.

Kuo previously said the third-generation AirPods would be released in the first half of 2021, and a series of leaked photos and renders certainly made it seem like a launch was imminent, but this no longer appears to be the case.

The third-generation AirPods are expected to have a similar design as the AirPods Pro, including shorter stems, but without silicone ear tips or active noise cancellation, allowing for a lower price. The second-generation AirPods retail for $159 with a wired charging case or for $199 with a wireless charging case, while the AirPods Pro run $249.

Apple released the second-generation AirPods in March 2019, followed by the AirPods Pro in October 2019.

Update: The full report has been published.

Article Link: New AirPods Expected to Launch in Third Quarter as Production Gets Underway
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/25/airpods-3-production-rumor/
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There is not going to be AirPods 3. I may be wrong but I also may be right. They just released AirPods Max back in early December. AirPods Pro and AirPods have not been updated for quite some time. They are probably going to either upgrade the AirPods or discontinue them. The AirPods Pro will get upgraded and the AirPods Max will possibly get a small upgrade too.
 
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after 5 years of the original airpods being the exact same price these things literally print money for Apple. Tooling has paid for itself already and they most likely only cost a few dollars to produce in the year 2021. This is why Apple has hundreds of billions sitting in the bank.
 
Hasn't Prosser tweeted multiple times that these were "ready to go"? I can't keep up with all of his misses. He tweeted a year ago that the new apple tv was also "ready to go".
 
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macsareveryintreasting said:
There is not going to be AirPods 3. I may be wrong but I also may be right. They just released AirPods Max back in early December. AirPods Pro and AirPods have not been updated for quite some time. They are probably going to either upgrade the AirPods or discontinue them. The AirPods Pro will get upgraded and the AirPods Max will possibly get a small upgrade too.
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What's the rationale for this? They're a hugely lucrative and successful product. Why would Apple bin the low-end AirPods?
 
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literally just ordered a pair of 2nd gens, I kinda need them now and was done waiting. Paid £95 for them and they come with the John Lewis warranty so I think I still got a decent deal.
 
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SirAnthonyHopkins said:
What's the rationale for this? They're a hugely lucrative and successful product. Why would Apple bin the low-end AirPods?
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They would discontinue them because one, they are really old and 2, they don't have as many features like AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. And if Apple is going to keep upgrading them, they probably are going to take away the Classic AirPods.
 
MacStreamer said:
Hasn't Prosser tweeted multiple times that these were "ready to go"? I can't keep up with all of his misses. He tweeted a year ago that the new apple tv was also "ready to go".
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Stuff could be ready to go but Apple isn't releasing it for some reason. Making a new Apple TV with a new chip isn't exactly a huge challenge for Apple (though making a remote that doesnt suck apparently is). References to Airtags are in the code from iOS 13. Those are probably collecting dust in a warehouse waiting for Apple to release them.
 
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macsareveryintreasting said:
They would discontinue them because one, they are really old and 2, they don't have as many features like AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. And if Apple is going to keep upgrading them, they probably are going to take away the Classic AirPods.
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The lack of features is precisely the point. This is the entry level and best-selling model by a mile. It's like saying Apple will discontinue the MacBook Air because it doesn't have as many features as the Pro.
 
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How about 2 different tips that allows you to switch between normal pods and pro.
 
SirAnthonyHopkins said:
literally just ordered a pair of 2nd gens, I kinda need them now and was done waiting. Paid £95 for them and they come with the John Lewis warranty so I think I still got a decent deal.
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My first gen has died. Disconnects after 2 minutes so I’m also done waiting. How did you get them for £95?
 
ugh Squeeze controls = hard pass. Sorry Apple, already can't stand these on my Pro's, which I only have to tolerate while traveling. I'll be darned if I'm going to deal with them when jogging or working out too. Going to stick with my second gen non pro's until the batteries die completely or Apple drops these dumb squeeze controls.
 
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I think what may be holding up AirPods 3 production is the current chip shortage situation. Once that clears up, hopefully by May 2021, we may see the AirPods 3 released and shipping to dealers in late May 2021.
 
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That's a shame, I was looking forward to treating myself this month but I'll save the money and get them in September then
 
finner79 said:
How did you get them for £95?
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oh, I just had a £30 voucher leftover from Christmas so got them down from £125. Given the limited lifespan of them I think around £100 is about the right price tbh. Hopefully by the time these are on their way out, the 3rd gens will be available at that price :)
 
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