Ming-Chi Kup is out with a new note in which he claims that Apple will be launching not one but two new AirPods at the end of 2019. One of the models will replace the existing 2nd gen AirPods and carry the same price tag as it.

The second model will feature an all-new design and carry a higher price tag to go along with it. Kuo does not detail the changes or new features the two new AirPods will pack. However, he does note that Apple will be switching to a new System-in-Package design that will help improve yields, save internal space, and reduce production costs. The two models are expected to launch at the end of this year or early next year.

Given that AirPods supply remains tight years after it first went on sale, it is clear that they are not that easy to produce. By switching to a more efficient production process, Apple could very well fix the supply issues with its wireless earbuds.

Kuo’s note comes hot on the heels of a DigiTimes report from earlier today which claimed that Apple will launch new AirPods with noise-cancellation later this year. There have been rumors of next-generation AirPods coming with new health sensors but that’s unlikely to happen and its more likely wishful thinking than anything else at this point.

The introduction of new AirPods will lead to Apple selling anywhere between 75 to 85 million units of AirPods in 2020. For 2019, Kuo expects Apple to ship around 52 million units.

Our Take

At this point, I think it is clear that Apple is indeed working on new AirPods with noise-cancellation. What remains to be seen is that when the company completes development on it and when it is ready for a public release. The recently released 2nd gen AirPods were slated to release last year itself but its launch was delayed by a few months. There’s always a chance that something similar plays out here as well.

[Via Apple Insider]

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