Apple plans to launch second-generation AirPods Pro during the first half of 2021, according to unnamed industry sources quoted by the Taiwanese publication DigiTimes in a report focused on the Winbond flash memory provider.
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From the report:
Winbond is also expected to be one of NOR’s vendors of flash for the new generation of Apple AirPods Pro that will launch at the end of the first half of this year, sources said. The Taiwan-based chip maker will run its NOR flash production lines with almost full capacity for use over the six-month period.
This follows a report from the Japanese blog Mac Otakara which claimed that the new AirPods Pro will be launched in April alongside a third-generation iPhone SE. This report offered no details on the new AirPods Pro beyond claiming that the wireless charging case will have slightly tight dimensions compared to the original.
BloombergMark Gurman has previously reported that Apple intends the AirPods Pro to be more compact by removing the protruding stem from the bottom of the headphones, but it’s unclear if Apple will achieve that feat. Gurman said Apple had a test design with a more rounded shape that fills more than the ear, similar to Google’s Pixel Buds or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds. This report also mentioned a release date for 2021.
Launched in November 2019, the current AirPods Pro features an in-ear design with three sizes of soft, flexible silicone tips included in the box, along with shorter stems below the ear. The AirPods Pro have several updated features compared to normal AirPods, such as active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and water and sweat resistance.
Earlier rumors suggest that Apple also plans to upgrade the standard AirPods in the first half of 2021 with a design similar to the AirPods Pro, but without active noise cancellation, allowing for a lower price. The current range includes standard AirPods with a cable charging case for $ 159 or a wireless charging case for $ 199 and the AirPods Pro with a wireless charging case for $ 249.