There are several devices we are expecting for this year. We should see new iPad Pro and Air next month, for example. We also expect the new iPhone 16 towards the end of the year, and along with them, it seems that new headphones may arrive. According to a recent note for investors by analyst Jeff Pu (collected by 9to5mac), Apple is preparing to launch new models of AirPods, including a lower-cost version tentatively known as “AirPods Lite”, scheduled for the second half of 2024.
More affordable AirPods
This new low-cost model would complement the current range of AirPods, which already includes five versions, including the 2nd and 3rd generation AirPods, the 2nd generation AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max, with prices ranging from $129 to $549. The introduction of the AirPods Lite would represent a strategic move by Apple to reach an even wider market segment, offering a more affordable alternative without sacrificing the quality and user experience that characterizes the AirPods.
Jeff Pu highlights that the production of AirPods will experience an increase towards the end of the year, precisely motivated by the launch of this new Lite model. Although Pu does not go into specific details about the characteristics of the AirPods Lite, other analysts, such as Ming-Chi Kuo, have suggested that these could have an approximate price of $99. Something that points to an Apple strategy to compete in a price range where it did not have a presence until now, seeking to capture those perhaps reluctant to invest in the more expensive models.
According to the information we have been seeing, 2024 will be a year of great innovations for the AirPods line. In addition to the new AirPods Max – although it is likely to be a minor update – Mark Gurman has already reported on Apple’s plans to introduce the fourth generation of AirPods this year.
A fourth generation with two different models that would include a renewed design and a USB-C charging case, but only the high-end model offering features such as noise cancellation. In this context, we still cannot be sure if the references to a more affordable version by Pu and Kuo coincide with any of the fourth generation variants mentioned by Bloomberg, or if they are completely different products.
Having clear that we are talking about unconfirmed information, it seems that this 2024 will be a great year for AirPods. Renewals in almost all ranges and probably a Lite version are great news. We will see, as September approaches and the possible release date of the news, what exactly Apple has prepared for us.
