The mass production of Apple AirPods 3 could start from the third quarter of 2021, believes TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This goes against various early rumors circulating around the internet suggesting that Apple could announce AirPods 3 on March 23 along with new iPads and Mac products. This also means we are still far to witness the third-generation AirPods.
Meanwhile, Apple has not made any announcement regarding any upcoming launch event. So, take the scoop and specs mentioned here with a pinch of salt.
Kuo reveals that Apple sold out 90 million units of AirPods 2 in 2020. But seeing the competition in the TWS earbuds market from rival brands, the shipment of AirPods 3 could drop to 78 million in 2021. Kuo says that Apple is also in a dilemma whether to stop or continue the production of AirPods 2 post the announcement of AirPods 3. The report speculates the Cupertino-based giant is looking for inexpensive AirPods that can help them to retrieve sales numbers.
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“If AirPods 2 will go to end-of-life after AirPods 3’s mass production, we estimate AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, and AirPods Max will account for about 40%, 28%, 31%, and 1% of total shipments, respectively, in 2021. If AirPods 2 will continue production after mass production of AirPods 3, we estimate AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, and AirPods Max will account for about 32%, 28%, 39%, and 1% of total shipments in 2021, respectively,” says the analyst Kuo.
Apple AirPods 3 Expected Design & Features
A few leaks and revelations have dropped regarding the possible design and features of the Apple AirPods 3. One of the renders from 52Audio hints at the upcoming earbud to feature a design similar to AirPods Pro but without silicone tips. The case of the said AirPods 3 seems wider than the Pro version. A leak also suggests that AirPods 3 could miss Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) but offer ear tips option for better in-ear fit (and passive noise isolation) to customers.
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So, let’s see how it differs from the prevailing AirPods Pro. This one packs ANC, transparency mode, IPX4 rating, adaptive equalizer, and dedicated H1 Chip with Bluetooth 5.0 for an asking price of INR 24,990.
