Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities today predicted two new AirPods models launching in 2019 and 2020.
According to Kuo’s note to clients, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, the first model is an improved version of the second-generation AirPods featuring the same external design and the same $159 base price as AirPods 2. The other one should be a more substantial update with new features and design.
The revered analysts claims Apple will adopt a system-in-package design for these upcoming AirPods. The same system-in-package technique is used for Apple Watch, putting an entire mini-computer along with all of the chips on a single miniaturized part.
This won’t just save space inside these AirPods, but also lower production cost and improved yield rates, meaning Apple gets to improve its margins.
The report is short on details—Kuo does not mention any specific features for the two new AirPods models. For what it’s worth, one of his earlier notes called for an AirPods model featuring sweat resistance along with “an all-new design, innovative user experience and high integration with iOS and Mac products”.
Such perks should boost replacement demand, he said.
That older research note also called for en early 2019 launch sometime during the first quarter. It’s unclear if these new AirPods will feature noise-cancelling technology, but Apple has a patent for a noise-cancelling earbuds that would let you selectively drown out, or listen in on, sounds from the ambient environment.
Kuo’s note makers no mention of health-tracking AirPods that DigiTimes recently said would launch later in 2019, but the company’s patent filings reveal it’s been researching health-tracking earbuds as well.
According to the analyst, Apple will ship approximately 52 million AirPods units in 2019 and upwards of 75 million units in 2020.
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