Apple to Launch New AirPods in May

John Prosser "New AirPods to Launch with MacBook Pro"
High Possibility of AirPods Pro Lite Model Release
May Lower Price by Removing Noise Cancelling Feature

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] It is anticipated that Apple will unveil a new wireless earphone, presumed to be the 'AirPods Pro Lite,' next month.

On the 19th (local time), John Prosser, an IT specialist YouTuber and Twitter user, stated, "The new AirPods originally scheduled to be revealed at the March event will be released next month alongside the MacBook Pro."

The leading candidate for the new AirPods Apple will unveil is the 'AirPods Pro Lite.' It is expected to be released at a more affordable price by excluding the active noise cancellation feature of the AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro, an in-ear wireless earphone, was launched at 329,000 KRW, which is 130,000 KRW more expensive than the regular AirPods.

The AirPods to be unveiled next month are likely either a new version of the AirPods Pro or the third-generation model of the AirPods. In February, Taiwan's DigiTimes reported that Apple would release a low-cost AirPods Pro including noise cancellation, indicating differing expectations regarding features. Apple is known to have started production of the new AirPods from the end of the first quarter or early second quarter.

Meanwhile, Apple is also preparing to launch a high-end over-ear headphone called 'AirPods X (tentative name)' in the second half of this year. It is expected to be released under the Apple brand rather than the Beats brand. The prospect of its release has gained traction after an icon for the new headphones was spotted in the iOS 14 code. It is reported to incorporate more features related to AirPods compared to existing Beats headphones.