Two New ‘AirPods 4’ Models
Some folks expected Apple to release new fourth-generation AirPods alongside the iPhone 15 during its September 2023 event. After all, the AirPods 3 came out in 2021, and Apple was about to shift its entire world over to USB-C.
The last time we had such a quiet year for AirPods was in 2018, when the original AirPods were still roaming the earth. In 2019, Apple brought us the second-generation AirPods and original AirPods Pro, and while 2020 was a bit less eventful, the AirPods Max did show up in December.
So, it was a surprise when only the AirPods Pro gained a USB-C case, and the rest of Apple’s AirPods were left behind on Lightning. Some of that may be a matter of Apple’s plate being full right now — even its Mac accessories haven’t made the switch to USB-C yet — but it’s also because Apple has something more in store for the ‘AirPods 4.’
If recent reports are accurate, Apple plans to release two new versions of the standard AirPods this year. Rather than keeping older AirPods on the market, Apple will release a “lite” set of AirPods that are effectively a direct upgrade to the current AirPods 3 for budget-conscious users, plus a more expensive version that will include active noise cancellation (ANC). The two new models will feature the same physical design, but it’s not yet clear how Apple will brand them.