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New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year

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Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest.

airpods-pro-3-purple.jpeg

Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major changes to the AirPods' hardware. AirPods Pro 2 debuted at the iPhone 14 event in September 2022, and they were updated with a USB-C charging case and a few other tweaks in September 2023. Otherwise, Apple has waited about three years to update all of its AirPods models.

Kuo said that the 2026 AirPods Pro will feature a "more significant" hardware upgrade in the form at least one tiny infrared camera. He previously said AirPods with infrared cameras could recognize hand gestures and provide an enhanced spatial audio experience with Apple's Vision Pro headset.

The Chinese leaker known as "Instant Digital" subsequently corroborated the rumor with some additional details and clarifications. Rather than being a new generation, the 2026 AirPods Pro will apparently be a pricier, high-end variant of the AirPods Pro 3 introduced in 2025, suggesting that both models will ultimately be on sale alongside each other. It is worth noting that Apple offers two version of the AirPods 4 at $129 and $179 price points, so this is a highly plausible move.

The current AirPods lineup has offerings priced at $129, $179, $249, and $549. An additional product between the $249 AirPods Pro 3 and $549 AirPods Max seems possible, especially given the rise of higher end Bluetooth earbuds from the likes of Bang Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bose.

As Kuo first said, Instant Digital similarly believes that the key differentiator will be an infrared camera for gesture controls. In fact, Apple may remove the high-end model's pressure-sensors and go all-in on gesture controls.

The H3 chip is also a possibility. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next-generation audio chip is in development. The AirPods Pro 3 launched last year stuck with the same H2 chip from their predecessor released in 2022.

Launch timing is currently unclear, but Apple typically announces new AirPods in the second half of the year. The original AirPods, AirPods Pro 2 and their subsequent USB-C revision, AirPods 4, and AirPods Pro 3 were all announced at Apple's annual iPhone event in September.

Article Link: New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/20/higher-end-airpods-pro-coming-this-year/
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When I read about new AirPods, I think about all the performative bots on social media claiming they are ditching Apple Music or other music streaming services for CDs and other physical media that they are "buying at thrift stores."
 
as a hardcore Vision Pro lover I would love this but I don't see apple releasing a new type of AirPods just for that considering how much they've backburnered it. Unless a new Vision Pro is coming out sooner than expected I just don't see it at this point. Unless these are something to pair with the forthcoming apple glasses
 
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"Apple may remove the high-end model's pressure-sensors and go all-in on gesture controls"

What are the pressure sensors? Are those what allows me to click the stems and to slide my finger up/down for volume? Because those work great!

I use Airpods 4 as well as Airpods Pro 3 to give my ears a break, and I really miss the volume slide on the Airpods 4.

Both of those controls (click and slide) work when I'm walking or running, even when sweaty. I cannot imagine gestures working well for multiple types of exercise. (And let's not talk about the joke which is trying to control using Siri. That mostly does not work in all conditions.)

I don't mind if they want to introduce this to some higher-end version as long as the current and great stem controls remain available in some model for us who like to exercise or who like the reliability of the current controls.
 
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Rather than being a new generation, the 2026 AirPods Pro will apparently be a pricier, high-end variant of the AirPods Pro 3 introduced in 2025, suggesting that both models will ultimately be on sale alongside each other. It is worth noting that Apple offers two version of the AirPods 4 at $129 and $179 price points, so this is a highly plausible move.
Click to expand...
Pricer and higher-end variant of AirPods Pro 3. Hmm.... Just like how the iPhone Air is pricer than the iPhone 17 and considered to be a higher-end variant vs iPhone 17 due to its design and premium materials (Titanium).

These will be called the AirPods Air

You read it here first.
 
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I am a daily AirPods Pro user since they first came out. I don't think I need or want gesture controls. I also don't like the idea of wearing ear-cameras everywhere I use my headphones.

With that said, I honestly can't think of anything significant that I want them to do. Maybe a different color?

Wait! Waterproof them. I know it's crazy, but I want to be able to use them while in the rain or even in the shower.
 
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The earbuds market is super saturated these days with more premium high-cost options, and lower-cost budget brands catching up by releasing increasngly improved specs. Apple has a golden opportunity here to release something that helps push the limits to further differentiate themselves from everyone else versus risk losing additional marketshare.

2025 (Actual) 2026 (Projected)
Apple ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 23% ■■■■■■■■■■■■ 21%
Xiaomi ■■■■■■■■■ 12% ■■■■■■■■■■ 14%
Samsung ■■■■■■ 7% ■■■■■■ 8%
Huawei/Other ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 58% ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 57%
 
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smithrh said:
While I've had interest in and use cases for AirPods since they were introduced, I've been put off by the 2-3 year lifespan.

Battery improvements or battery replaceability would be very helpful.
Click to expand...

I agree with the sentiment but I don't see how it's physically practical. It's an engineering miracle they get a battery and all that stuff into the package in the first place. No way someone could take it apart and replace it without special training and equipment.

So considering the cost of battery and labor every 2-3 years and the discounts they go on constantly, it's not the worst thing in the world to get the upgraded model every 3 years along with fresh battery.

I know it sounds a bit like a schill argument for e-waste, but they really are great compared to other options for the same functionality. The auto pairing, transparency, noise canceling etc all in something that fits easily into my pocket is just hard to beat.
 
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I thought I read or heard end of last year murmurs that AirPods Pro 3 cycle will be a comparatively short one and wasn't just a figment of my imagination. Makes sense / this tracks.
 
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