According to Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, Apple will release two new AirPods 4 next month. AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 will be replaced by mid-tier and entry-level models, respectively.
As Gurman explained, AirPods 4 will replace both models, the entry-level model replacing AirPods 2, and the mid-tier model replacing AirPods 3. Both will have similar designs, but one key difference will be active noise cancellation.
According to Gurman, the mid-tier AirPods 4 will have active noise cancellation, whereas the entry-level AirPods will not. AirPods 4 are not the same as AirPods Pro 3, which he says won’t receive an update until later this year. Gurman doesn’t provide many details beyond that.
Most likely, both AirPods 4 versions will use USB-C. AirPods 4 entry-level models will not support wireless charging, whereas the mid-tier version will. Both AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 followed this strategy, so I expect they’ll follow it with the new AirPods as well.
Apple’s new AirPods will also be branded uniquely. Maybe AirPods Lite and AirPods 4 will be released. Whatever the case may be, we shouldn’t have to wait long to find out.
