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It has been more than a year since the second generation of the entry-level AirPods was released, and its successor is expected to arrive next year. While the AirPods 3 is anticipated to sport a new form factor, it is a design with which Apple fans are already familiar.
AirPods 3 release date eyed in H1 2021
The AirPods line does not get the same treatment as iPhones in the sense that it does not get a new model released every year. It is then not surprising that 2020 is about to end and Apple is unlikely going to launch AirPods 3.
However, well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the AirPods 3 is slated for release in the first half of 2021. If this became a reality, it would mean that Apple minimized the waiting period for the arrival of new entry-level earbuds. The first AirPods was launched in 2016, but its successor was not launched until March 2019.
AirPods 3 to look like AirPods Pro but without premium features
As mentioned, AirPods 3 is expected to be released with a new look. Apple is expected to design the device with system-in-package (SiP) technology that is crucial to achieving a similar design as AirPods Pro. With that, AirPods 3 can be expected to sport shorter stems and to ship with a new charging case. Another possibility is for Apple’s next entry-level earbuds to have customizable ear tips.
However, the similarity between AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro likely ends with the design. As a cheaper option, fans should not expect the AirPods 3 to ship with premium features introduced on the AirPods Pro such as the Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode.
That does not mean the AirPods 3 will not have upgrades, though. Apple is reportedly developing a new wireless chip for its upcoming earbuds and a battery improvement is also a likely change.
The AirPods Pro was launched with just a wireless charging case, and that could also be the same strategy for the AirPods 3. Meanwhile, sweat and water resistance is also a feature reserved only for the Pro-branded earbuds. But since AirPods 3 is going to be designed the same way, there is a chance that this is one of the improvements to be added to the device.
Featured photo by Daniel Romero on Unsplash
