Apple currently sells four different models of AirPods, from the second-generation AirPods to the advanced AirPods Max. While AirPods are very popular, they aren't exactly cheap. According to analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong Intl Tech Research, the company is now working on a new "AirPods Lite" to compete with cheaper wireless earbuds.
Although the AirPods are quite successful accessories, Jeff Pu claims, based on his industry sources, that demand for the AirPods will decline until 2023. More specifically, AirPods shipments are expected to fall from 73 million units in 2022 to 63 million in 2023. This is partly due to the “weak demand for the AirPods 3” and the fact that Apple may not release new AirPods this year.
New AirPods Lite are on the way
The analyst claims that the company is working on "AirPods Lite." At this point, it's unclear exactly what this product will be and what features it will have. However, Pu describes it as a "more affordable product" intended to compete with earbuds from other manufacturers. With the launch of the AirPods 3 in 2021, Apple made the previous generation, the AirPods 2, available in stores at a lower price. In 2022, Apple introduced the second generation of AirPods Pro with significant improvements, including better noise cancellation and a new charging case featuring the U1 chip for precision tracking. However, there are no rumors about when Apple plans to release an update for the regular AirPods (currently in their third generation) or even the premium AirPods Max. (Photo by wabeno / Bigstockphoto)
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