Apple launched its first set of headphones, namely the AirPods in 2016 but it was somewhere around 2018 that these pods started becoming best sellers. Ever since then, the brand has been launching and updating the AirPods ecosystem every now and then, the last being AirPods Pro 2 launched in 2022. AirPods Pro 2 is one of the best noise-canceling earbuds on the market.
With the annual iPhone Series launch just a few days away, the question arises when will the next AirPods Pro launch? Will Apple launch them this year itself or push it to 2024? In this article, we have tried to find out if the Apple AirPods Pro 3 will come out in 2023 or not. We have also talked about its expected pricing, features, and more. Read on to know more.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: Launch this year?
Apple AirPods Pro 2 was launched on 23rd September 2022 but the AirPods Pro was launched on October 30, 2019. The 3-year gap between 2 iterations could be due to the pandemic but it might still be very soon to expect AirPods Pro 3 in 2023 as it will be just a year after AirPods Pro 2 launch.
However, there are indications of a USB-C variant of the AirPods Pro 2 that was initially claimed by Ming-Chi Kuo in August 2022. The prediction sounded bizarre at that time but now it seems to be coming true as the leaks about new charging cases mean the inclusion of a USB-C port.
Although the European Union has claimed that it will adopt USB-C charging by autumn 2024, but Apple isn’t happy with this deadline. The Cupertino-based tech giant feels that such a move from the European Union will stifle innovation, so there are chances that Apple might launch AirPods Pro 3 with USB-C charging earlier than 2024.
Ever since March this year, there have been rumors about Ios 16.4 referencing new AirPods and AirPods cases. Ming-Chi Kuo also tweeted a post that claimed a USB-C version of the AirPods Pro 2. He also said that the mass shipments of this new variant were expected in 2Q23-3Q23 adding that Apple isn’t bringing USB-C to AirPods 2 and 3.
Another analyst Mark Gurman claimed in his newsletter in July 2023 that Apple might launch a USB-C charging case for AirPods Pro along with iPhone 15 series. So, chances are high that the brand might launch only new USB-C cases for AirPods Pro 2 in September 2023.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: Expected Price
Apple AirPods Pro and Apple AirPods Pro 2 were priced at 249 USD when they were launched. So, Apple AirPods Pro 3 might also cost the same. The only scenario when Apple would think about a price hike will be if they launch AirPods Pro 3 with major updates.
No matter what the prices are, the AirPods will definitely be available on sale during various holiday seasons. Currently, AirPods Pro 2 costs around 199 USD on Amazon.
ALSO READ: iPhone 15 Series Could Debut with 40Gbps Thunderbolt USB-C Ports
Apple AirPods Pro 3: New Features
Lossless Audio
One area where Apple is likely to make an improvement is the ability to play Apple’s hi-res lossless audio that was introduced in 2021. To date, no Apple earphones are capable of playing audio at this resolution.
USB-C Charging
The biggest upgrade that has been hinted at by various sources is the inclusion of USB-C charging for AirPods Pro 3. With Apple about to adopt USB-C charging, there has been a ruling in European Union to include USB-C in all devices. Every AirPods case will take USB-C charging, as claimed by Ming Chi-Kuo in August 2022.
Gurman claimed that all 3 AirPods models will get USB-C by the end of 2023. In July 2023 he said that the brand might be prepared to wait a little longer for the non-standard models.
Temperature Sensor
Apple Watch already includes a Temperature Sensor that is used for the ovulation tracking feature. The brand has been keen to build in body temperature measurement features to its earbuds, the ear canal being a better and more accurate source of such data than a Watch.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that Apple is working on adding a temperature sensor to a future set of AirPods.
Hearing
Hearing Health is also expected to be one key area of innovation this time. Apple is looking at the ability to get hearing data of some sort. A new hearing test feature that will play different tones and sounds to allow AirPods to determine how well a person can hear is being worked upon. It will help users screen for hearing issues.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: What We Expect
New Shades other than White
For those who don’t know, Apple originally planned to sell AirPods in a host of colors other than shiny Arctic white which has been the standard since 2016. The story is that Product RED, Purple, Black, and Blonde AirPods were planned to correspond with options for iPhone 7 but were ultimately canceled.
We have seen AirPods Max in space gray, silver, sky blue, and green colors so expecting more shades for AirPods Pro 3 isn’t that big of an ask right?
Customizable ANC levels
Users want to play with the levels of noise nixing and listeners want adaptive audio that’s tweakable further than simply on/off. Different levels of noise cancellation are wanted, even better would be letting the user create his/her own level of ANC using a slider or two. These should be saved so that they can be used in the future seamlessly.
Multipoint connectivity
Many flagship earbuds offer multipoint connectivity to 3 devices whether Android or ios. This would be good if AirPods Pro get the same multipoint connectivity. Current AirPods cannot connect to two different devices simultaneously unless they are both Apple products.
Better microphone quality
Although AirPods Pro 2 offers good microphone quality, it can be better in sub-optimal conditions. It would be exciting to see Apple improve the noise suppression on the AirPods Pro 3 in the microphone system.
Longer battery life
Apple’s official battery life for the AirPods Pro 2 is 6 hours with ANC on. In standardized testing, the AirPods Pro 2 last around 5 hours and 43 minutes with ANC on. For Apple to stay competitive with other brands in the battery department, it must bump the AirPods Pro 3 battery life to at least 7 hours.
Improved Durability
While AirPods Pro 2 comes with IPX4 water resistance, a combined dust-and-water resistance would be ideal for AirPods Pro 3. This improved durability would set AirPods Pro 3 apart from other flagships making them even better for rock climbers and those who live in desert regions.
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