The Apple AirPods series is one of the most successful headphones in the world. The interest in when Apple will release a new generation of AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max is correspondingly high. We’ve rounded up the latest rumors as to when the new versions of Apple’s headphones will launch.
When will Apple bring new AirPods Max?
Apple is not yet planning a second generation for the high-end AirPods Max model that was released at the end of 2020. A new model is long overdue, however, as Apple released support for lossless audio in Apple Music last June. And the AirPods Max technically can’t play music in lossless quality, even over a wired connection.
According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple may only bring new colors for the AirPods Max for the time being:
“Apple only recently caught up with demand for the product, and it is not currently working on a second generation of the AirPods Max, though it has discussed launching additional color variations in the future.”
Mark Gurman, Bloomberg
Changes to the AirPods Max 2 could include features like USB-C and MagSafe charging. A protection rating against water and dust as well as new colors would also be conceivable. It’s also interesting that Apple is working on a higher quality Bluetooth codec for the current generation AirPods Max. Although improvements would be more than welcome, Apple would need to upgrade the hardware to take full advantage of this technology.
With the launch of the new AirPods Max 2, Apple could also upgrade to a new H2 chip, improved ANC, and the new Adaptive Transparency feature, in addition to Bluetooth 5.3 support.
When will Apple bring the AirPods 4?
Apple released the AirPods 3 in October a year ago, with a similar look to the AirPods Pro but without the earbuds. The wireless earbuds don’t have ANC or a transparency mode. Compared to the predecessor, however, there is more bass on board. They also manage 6 hours of battery life on a single charge and have a new MagSafe charging case. Additionally, the earbuds support Dolby Atmos with Spatial Audio.
It’s unclear when Apple might release the AirPods 4. As the company prepares to launch a new codec, the AirPods 4 will likely feature Bluetooth 5.3 support and the LC3 codec. The new H2 chip should also take over the drive here.
When are the AirPods Pro 3 coming?
This is where the prognosis is worst – Apple only released the AirPods Pro 2 a few months ago. Therefore, no new version can be expected in the foreseeable future.
