The code of macOS Tahoe 26.7 contains two identifiers that have never appeared before. They follow the exact pattern of the current AirPods 4 – thus hinting at their successor. However, they reveal nothing more than the existence of two models.
The macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate lists the internal identifiers B868M and B868E. Neither of these were found in any previous Apple software. The current AirPods 4 use the internal identifiers B768M and B768E – the jump from 768 to 868 follows the usual pattern for a successor generation. This same software version also included the demo video for the camera AirPods, which pertains to a different product.
Key Facts at a Glance
- macOS Tahoe 26.7 contains the previously unknown identifiers B868M and B868E.
- The naming pattern corresponds to the AirPods 4, which are sold under B768M and B768E – the two final letters stand for the version without and with active noise cancellation.
- The code confirms the existence of two models, but does not specify either the features or the release date.
- The code says nothing about the chip; the current H2 dates from 2022.
- The same code also contains a reference to an unreleased Beats model.
What the two identifiers reveal
Apple assigns each product an internal letter-number combination long before a name is decided. The fact that two identifiers with the same number but different ending letters appear is the real clue: In the case of the AirPods 4, this pair marks the variant without and the variant with active noise cancellation.
Apple introduced this division with the AirPods 4 in September 2024, extending the previous separation between the standard and Pro models to the lower end. The codenames suggest that the next generation will retain this same division.
That's all it says. Neither price, features, nor a delivery date can be gleaned from the identifier – it only confirms that a product exists and is being prepared in the software.
The chip as an open question
The code is silent on the internal components. The H3 seems the most likely candidate: the current H2 dates back to 2022 and is now used in AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max 2. By the time a fifth generation is released, it would be four to five years old – building a new model on top of it would be difficult to justify.
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman reported in October 2025, shortly after the launch of the AirPods Pro 3, that Apple was working on an H3 chip. He did not specify a date. Therefore, it remains unclear in which model the chip will first appear, as well as what specific changes it will make.
What the code doesn't say about the date
The gap between generations of the entry-level model is significant: Almost three years passed between the AirPods 3 in October 2021 and the AirPods 4 in September 2024. Following this pattern, the fifth generation wouldn't be due until 2027 at the earliest.
It's normal for identifiers to appear early in released software; this isn't an indication of a release date. The difference to the camera model is clear: there, the code contains a fully narrated product video, while here it consists of two strings of characters. The preview of the Apple event summarizes what's likely to be presented in September.
What a new entry-level model changes for the European market
For buyers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, more than just sound quality is at stake with a new generation of AirPods. EU battery regulations require replaceable batteries in devices from 2027 onwards – earbuds are explicitly exempt from this. Therefore, a new version doesn't need to change the design.
The situation is different with device pairing: At the EU's request, Apple is opening up automatic device switching to third-party manufacturers, initially only within the EU. For you, this means that a future entry-level model will launch here in an environment where competing products are allowed to offer the same convenient features – a competitive pressure that doesn't exist in the US.
Two strings, one product in progress
This confirms that Apple is working on a fifth generation of regular AirPods and plans to release them in two versions. Everything else – chip, features, release date – is not revealed in the code. The overview of AirPods features in iOS 27 details which new features the current software already brings to existing models.
Would a better chip be reason enough for you to upgrade from the AirPods 4 to a fifth generation – or will the current model last for years to come? Tell us in the comments how long your AirPods usually last.
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