Apple is reportedly working on a new, cheaper AirPods model. According to the first rumors, the new Apple headphones should be called “AirPods Lite”. Apple could finally offer an alternative in the lower price segment in the market for wireless headphones. The info comes from 9To5Mac. According to this, industry analyst Jeff Pu was informed by internal sources that Apple wants to create a new entry-level option with the AirPods Lite. The whole thing is very reminiscent of the iPhone SE – current Apple software, but greatly reduced hardware.
Apple AirPods Lite in response to low demand for AirPods 3
With the AirPods Lite, Apple plans to offer a cheap alternative to the low demand for the 3rd generation AirPods. For 2023, total headphone shipments are expected to decline by 10 million units. According to the latest reports, the sales market has already fallen from 73 million to 63 million in 2022. So far there are no indications of a 4th generation of AirPods. As such, Apple may be focusing its development resources on the Lite model right now.
Apple currently offers five different AirPods models: The AirPods 2, 3, Pro, Pro 2 and the more expensive top model AirPods Max. The AirPods Lite could launch at a price of less than $129. Maybe Apple will even break the $100 mark with $99, which would position the earphones in the entry-level segment and clearly differentiate them from the AirPods 2, which Apple is currently selling for an RRP of $129.
Unfortunately, there is no concrete information about the technical data and which features the Apple AirPods Lite will drop. It is conceivable that the Lite version will simply be a revised version of the 2nd generation AirPods with the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard. We will keep our eyes open and report.
