Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

So if I can wait to get the AirPods Pro should I wait? Or is this only on the regular AirPods? If this is about regular AirPods why two different models?

I’d say wait for next yr if it’s not pressing pressing. I’m taking abt pros. My pro 2s are awesome and I highly recommend (especially on that massive 190$ sale price plus apple care)….buuuut like i said if you can wait then by all means…

As for regular pods the two models of the same gen means no more gen 2, gen 3 regulars then gen 2 or gen 3 pros. Just: AirPod then AirPod “plus” then AirPod pros.

Makes sense and keeps it simple. No more gen 12345678. We can then all differentiate by year I suppose.

 

[tuckerjj]

How does that work w/ the low battery beeping signal halfway through the night?

Never had that happen! (Or if it did it didn’t wake me up). I only put one AirPod in one ear (normally left), it’s fully charged, it only needs to play (a podcast with talking on very low volume) for a maximum of 30 mins (which is what I set the sleep timer to) by which time I’m asleep, and it nearly always falls out in the night (so the first thing I do every morning is find it and pop it back in the case).

 

[tuckerjj]

I’m curious as to what setting you have your AirPods on when you sleep. Noise cancellation, I assume?…

Is music on or maybe falling rain sounds?…

These are second gen non-Pros, so no noise cancellation, and I only put one in, normally the left ear. I put on a podcast with people just talking about a topic I’m interested in (ironically if if it’s something I’m not interested in at all my mind wanders and keeps me awake), no music, on very low volume. I set a sleep timer to automatically pause it after 30 mins, and 99% of the time I’m asleep within 15.

 

[raziel101]

These are second gen non-Pros, so no noise cancellation, and I only put one in, normally the left ear. I put on a podcast with people just talking about a topic I’m interested in (ironically if if it’s something I’m not interested in at all my mind wanders and keeps me awake), no music, on very low volume. I set a sleep timer to automatically pause it after 30 mins, and 99% of the time I’m asleep within 15.

I can only fall asleep with my pros 2 because of noisy neighbours. They fall out of my ears in the middle of the night but by then, I’m in a deep sleep and neighbours have gone to bed.

 

[Populus]

They better keep a non-silicon tip version available.

I’ve been an AirPods user since day one, literally ordered them the first day you could.

I will NEVER use a version that sticks a plunger in my ear.

I hope the product designers and engineers read MacRumors, because on each entry about the next AirPods there are always a couple or three comments about this on top. Fingers crossed, if they only release silicon-tipped AirPods they will lose a customer on me.

 

[Populus]

Hmm, time to stock up on 2nd gen AirPods. These are my “sleeping” airpods since they’re the only ones with stems thin enough to wear comfortably when my ear is on the pillow. My getting a good nights sleep is dependent on these!

In case you need something else someday, on Amazon they sell some kind of soft textile bands that you put on your head and they have thin speakers on it. They say it is the most comfortable thing to sleep with, and I want to buy one of those, because my neighbors are noisy.

I have a pair of second gen AirPods, by the way, but for me they get uncomfortable to sleep with (on my side).

 

[Mr. Jenkins]

So if I can wait to get the AirPods Pro should I wait? Or is this only on the regular AirPods? If this is about regular AirPods why two different models?

I just got AirPods Pro 2 about a week ago. I traded my 1st gens in. I love them.

I’m always of the belief that if you want it now, get it now.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Now a hearing test feature would be awesome…. You could use it as a “non official medical guide” if you suspect something and if so if something comes up… head along to get a real hearing test… or have iOS help arrange one for you

These are the types of features that would be really cool

 

[VisceralRealist]

They better keep a non-silicon tip version available.

I’ve been an AirPods user since day one, literally ordered them the first day you could.

I will NEVER use a version that sticks a plunger in my ear.

Same here. Silicone tips do not work for me. They are uncomfortable, difficult to put in, and they always end up falling out. And I also simply do not always want that much sound blocked out. I hope they continue to offer "regular" AirPods without silicone tips. Many other companies, like Google and Sony, do not have such options.

 

[thejoshuabradshaw]

I hope they make a second-gen version. I like the longer stems for lying in bed and podcasts where spatial nonsense doesn't matter.

 

[phrehdd]

Lossless in inear headphones?

Yes. There is AptX HD and LDAC that are fairly close and Apple should be the leader and get complete lossless or very near rather than just AAC as is.

 

[Howard2k]

My AirPod Pro 2s have reached end of (battery) life, holding charge for very little time. They seemed normal one day but then near dead the next... coinciding with that last firmware update, but I'll try to assume that that was only coincidence.

With rumors of this 4th generation coming, I thought I'd try some $20 "cheapies" with very good ratings. I went in with lowwwwwwwww expectations due to them being sooooooooo much cheaper. So far- now a full month into their use- I'm delighted with them. Sound is at least as good to my ears, microphones work just as well, the charge percentage LED is- IMO- far superior to the green-amber dot approach, fit seems as good, size & weight seems about the same and they work perfectly fine with my Apple stuff.

I'm still assuming there is some catch coming, but at $20 instead of about $160-$180, I'll ride these until the 4s arrive and see how things are after months of use and a number of charge cycles. If they don't significantly falter by then, I don't think I'll pay the Apple (super?) Premium for the 4s.

Even if it turns out that cheap price = cheap battery that wears out in maybe a year, $20/yr is a LOT less than $160+ every 2.5 years. At a month in, no good judgement can be fully made... but so far, so very good.

Yep, battery is the only difference.


/s.

I do agree that outside the Apple ecosystem then Airpods have less value. But they’re clearly not the same as the $20 Amazon product. If you are considering buying AirPods and not just stirring the pot on a web forum you owe it to yourself to understand at least the basic product features.

I do agree that they are expensive and not for everyone .

 

[kerr]

I really don’t understand the logic between having three product lines: AirPods Pro, lower-end AirPods and higher-end AirPods.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Yep, battery is the only difference.


/s.

I do agree that outside the Apple ecosystem then Airpods have less value. But they’re clearly not the same as the $20 Amazon product. If you are considering buying AirPods and not just stirring the pot on a web forum you owe it to yourself to understand at least the basic product features.

I do agree that they are expensive and not for everyone .

I have AirPods Pro 2 and thoroughly understand the differences. However, right now, those most important potential differences do not seem apparent to me: sound quality is great and microphones for calls work seemingly as well. I much prefer the LED reserve numbers vs. the amber-green light.

Maybe some time from now, the “catch” will show itself. About 30 days in, it has not. If it doesn’t show by the release of the APP4, I’m prob not a buyer. If it does show, maybe these bridge the gap until those are available. TBD.

 

[Surf Monkey]

There is working wireless lossless now with aptX Lossless. It uses up to 1 Mbps with lossless compression of 44.1 or 48 kHz 16-bit. It is implemented by the Snapdragon 8xx SoCs. Bluetooth 5 allows for 2 Mbps raw, so 1 Mbps is realistic in practice under good RF conditions. CD quality is 1.2 Mbps uncompressed, so under 1 Mbps with lossless compression is also realistic.

Here is a list of products supporting aptX Lossless: https://www.aptx.com/product-listing?aptx_type=981&created[min]=2019/09/31&created[max]=2024/03/17&sort_by=created&sort_order=DESC

Except that AptX Lossless isn’t actually lossless:

aptX Lossless: what is the breakthrough Bluetooth codec? How can you get it?

You can now stream CD-quality audio losslessly over Bluetooth, if you have the right kit

www.whathifi.com

It’s close to CD quality but is still compressed some. If you want CD or better you need wires.

Now, that being said, why the hell doesn’t Apple already support AptX Lossless? I use an AptX dongle that can broadcast in AptX HD, Lossless and LDAC. They all sound better than Apple’s native Bluetooth support.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I really don’t understand the logic between having three product lines: AirPods Pro, lower-end AirPods and higher-end AirPods.

Probably something like this:

1) AirPods. - No ANC, no Transparency.

2) AirPods (Plus?) - ANC and Transparency.

3) AirPods Pro. - ANC, Transparency and health tracking features.

4) AirPods Max.

Seems like a lot, but look at any of the Chinese IEM makers. Some come out with new wired and wireless designs and technologies almost monthly. Apple’s dev cycle on the AirPods line is GLACIAL.

 

[friedduck]

I've owned Airpods and both Pro versions and am not buying another until they fix their screw-up with the latest firmware. ANC isn't nearly as effective as it used to be. It's a remarkable difference on planes where they really were best-in-class.

 

[HDFan]

There is working wireless lossless now with aptX Lossless. It uses up to 1 Mbps with lossless compression of 44.1 or 48 kHz 16-bit.

There is AptX HD and LDAC that are fairly close

Except that AptX Lossless isn’t actually lossless:

it’s close to CD quality but is still compressed some.

As above AptX does compress CD bitrates > 1 mbps under ideal conditions. Doesn't handle higher sampling rates.

LDAC also isn't lossless.

The ultimate guide to Bluetooth headphones: LDAC isn't Hi-res

Sony’s LDAC has risen to popularity as the audiophile-grade Bluetooth codec. Can LDAC match the quality of wired 24-bit/96kHz Hi-Res audio?

www.soundguys.com

Waiting to hear more about VP lossless with new Airpods Pro.

 

[VisceralRealist]

I really don’t understand the logic between having three product lines: AirPods Pro, lower-end AirPods and higher-end AirPods.

The logic is that Apple makes more money the more exhaustive the product lineup is. I'm sure there will be at least 7 iPads to choose from when the new models are released this year...

 

[Howard2k]

The logic is that Apple makes more money the more exhaustive the product lineup is. I'm sure there will be at least 7 iPads to choose from when the new models are released this year...

Any idiot buying multiple iPads each year rather than making an informed decision is a boon for shareholders. I'm all for that.

 

[kerr]

Probably something like this:

1) AirPods. - No ANC, no Transparency.

2) AirPods (Plus?) - ANC and Transparency.

3) AirPods Pro. - ANC, Transparency and health tracking features.

AirPods Plus, I like that. My guess is they would probably have ANC/TM equivalent to AirPods Pro 1st Gen rather than AirPods Pro 2nd Gen. We will have to wait and see.

I have AirPods Pro 1st Gen, waiting for 3rd Gen, but perhaps AirPods Plus might suit my needs. I don't particularly care about health features.

 

[kerr]

The logic is that Apple makes more money the more exhaustive the product lineup is. I'm sure there will be at least 7 iPads to choose from when the new models are released this year...

Hopefully Apple drop the Lightning Charging Case, I mean, people should just buy the MagSafe Charging Case for $10 more. Or are we going to have:

AirPods (4th generation) with Lightning Charging Case - USD $169
AirPods (4th generation) with MagSafe Charging Case - USD $179
AirPods Plus (1st generation) with Lightning Charging Case - USD $209
AirPods Plus (1st generation) with MagSafe Charging Case - USD $219

 

[svish]

Wonder what the pricing will be for the new AirPods. Initially had thought that Apple might release it in June.

 

[t0rqx]

I've owned Airpods and both Pro versions and am not buying another until they fix their screw-up with the latest firmware. ANC isn't nearly as effective as it used to be. It's a remarkable difference on planes where they really were best-in-class.

Planned obsolescence and forced upgrades when new versions are being released. Its the new tactic to make revenue.

 

[Kiwidevdude]

Can we get precession finding? I have a case for an AirTag on my AirPod case (it lives on my key chain so I can find both)

The build in gen 1 pro is rubbish on find my