Proven Leaker Says New AirPods Ready to Ship, New 12.9-Inch iPad Pro Will Likely Outsell 11-Inch Model

[MacRumors]

Apple's next-generation AirPods are "ready to ship," and the second-generation AirPods will be discontinued this month as a result, a proven leaker known as "Kang" said today on Chinese social media website Weibo.

Apple is widely rumored to be working on third-generation AirPods, with leaked images and renders suggesting that the new earphones will have a similar design as the AirPods Pro, including shorter stems. While the new AirPods may look similar to the AirPods Pro, they are not expected to feature Active Noise Cancellation.

"Kang" also shared their belief that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will outsell the 11-inch model in 2021, suggesting that the next-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro could have at least one exclusive feature compared to the 11-inch model. Apple is widely rumored to have a new iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display in the pipeline, but most rumors have only mentioned the 12.9-inch model, so perhaps Mini-LED will be exclusive to the 12.9-inch model.

The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro is also expected to feature a faster A14X chip and support for 5G networks on models with cellular connectivity. It's possible these two features could extend to a new 11-inch model, but it's unclear.

"Kang" recently suggested that Apple plans to host an event on Tuesday, March 23, where the new AirPods and new iPad Pro could be announced. Other products rumored to be in Apple's pipeline include the long-awaited AirTags item trackers, a new Apple TV with more of a gaming focus, and a redesigned iMac powered by Apple silicon, but it's unclear if any of those products will be unveiled this month.

"Kang" has a nearly perfect track record with Apple rumors, having previously leaked accurate details about iPhone 12 models, Apple Watch Series 6 models, the fourth-generation iPad Air, the HomePod mini, and many other devices in recent months.

Article Link: Proven Leaker Says New AirPods Ready to Ship, New 12.9-Inch iPad Pro Will Likely Outsell 11-Inch Model

 

[Serban55]

March 23th here we come

 

[dantracht]

I read on once I didn't see Prosser mentioned anywhere.

 

[awdodson24]

I think I'm ready to ditch the MacBook Air and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st gen) and only go with the larger iPad Pro.

 

[nattK]

I find it most bizarre that they are choosing to announce the third-gen AirPods during an event when they opted to go with a press release for the Pro and Max (which have more significant features over the regular AirPods). Unless it's going to be a minor announcement at the end of the event e.g "oh by the way we are also introducing new AirPods which you can buy starting today"

 

[kimmen]

"have a similar design as the AirPods Pro"...
Does that mean they will have the supremely uncorfortable rubber thing that gets pushed into the ear-canal?

 

[terminator-jq]

It’s unfortunate that Apple is not extending mini-LED to the 11”... As an owner of the 2018 model, the 2020 model didn’t do much to convince me to upgrade and it sounds like this year will be the same. Not to mention, the new iPad Air puts the 11” in an even more awkward position.

Maybe Apple will have some suprise for us.

 

[SethBoy]

Tired of bigger screen size = better specs.

 

[StudyFlo]

What happened to that render? Some Photoshop mistake? There were these black sensors / outlets, which seem to have been retouched badly.

 

[Serban55]

I find it most bizarre that they are choosing to announce the third-gen AirPods during an event when they opted to go with a press release for the Pro and Max (which have more significant features over the regular AirPods). Unless it's going to be a minor announcement at the end of the event e.g "oh by the way we are also introducing new AirPods which you can buy starting today"

how do you know they will release them at the event? maybe a press release 1 week earlier or after the event..
keeping the event for the ipad pro, apple tv airtags etc

 

[Kylo83]

We keep hearing the same thing over and over

 

[Freida]

Can't wait for the iPP. This will finally let me retire Air 2. Was ready to get 2020 model but with the crappy "update" there was no way. Now, this is what I've been waiting for

 

[reyesmac]

The iPad 12 inch (maybe not this year but I hope it is) will probably be the first iPad to run Mac OS apps. Technically it should be able to run the Mac OS entirely but maybe Apple will run Mac Apps in their own window where you see the menu bar only in those apps and the Finder will be replaced with the built in iPad files app. Either way this would be awesome. Apple needs to find a way to get the iPad developers to develop cross platform apps so that they can grow the number of native apps on apple silicon. Adding the ability to run Mac Apps on an iPad would help that along. And you'll need the bigger screen to pull that off. It probably wont be coming to all iPads ever. What would happen is that universal apps would be ones that can install on any of their devices and run the one formated for the correct device. If its a 12 inch iPad it would run the full MacOS version, if it's a smaller iPad it would run the mobile version only.

 

[NinjaHERO]

Come on Apple...take my money. Give us that new Ipad Pro

 

[DaveN]

Kitty needs a new iPad mini. Will charge on my Apple card

 

[djlythium]

Given the 12.9” iPP is aimed at professional artists, I’d bet virtual money that the new model has even further reduced latency, couple if milliseconds, for a new Gen 3 Pencil.

 

[nymphe]

Last year there was a rumor about new ipad (gen 9), even though gen 8 was announced very recently. Because I suffered from an iPad 3 almost 10 years ago, I really don't want to buy gen 8 ipad now. However the rumors have stopped completely, so it seems there won't be an new base ipad soon...

Correction: it seems it was beginning of this year: https://www.macrumors.com/2021/01/06/low-cost-ipad-thinner-design/

 

[jclardy]

My guess is the reason the 12.9” will outsell the 11” pro is that the 11” Pro will be discontinued. The ”Pro” will designate 12.9”, the Air 11” and just iPad is the cheap model.

The Air and the 11” Pro are way too close in specs right now, and the Air will need an update later this year, probably getting 120hz and 5G and essentially becoming the “Pro” but at a lower price point.

 

[performa_6400]

Any idea if the airpods will come standard with the wireless charging case?

 

[iPadified]

12.9 outselling the 11-inch? Is the majority at Macrumours people wrong again about the perfect size? We need a new niche iPad to complain about. Where is that 15-inch with M1 equivalent and 16 gb RAM?

I hope the A14X is essentially an M1 and configurable with 8-16 gb RAM.

 

[adamjackson]

I refuse to believe I'll buy and love a 12" iPad over an 11" but we'll see what Apple has up their sleeves. I wanted MORE screen real estate when I used an iPad Pro 11" for 2 straight weeks on a recent trip with no Macintosh. BUT, at home I hold my iPad in my lap too much that it's a perfect size.

 

[0s and 1s]

If Apple is going to vastly differentiate features between the two iPad Pro sizes, then are we going to see a new name on the 12.9” this month? iPad Pro Max, anyone?

 

[jasonefmonk]

Coming up with the smallest wireless buds case and then needlessly making it larger is a mistake! I love the design of the current case.

 

[DNichter]

If they can reduce the overall footprint, I could potentially go for the 12.9, but aside from a stand on my desk - I primarily use my iPad in my lap. I think the 12.9 will still be too big for that.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

More interested in when the AirPods Pro 2 will release.