More leaked photos apparently showing the Apple AirPods 3 showed a major design shift for the wireless earbuds.
The images were posted on Twitter by LeaksApplePro, and shows what looks like a pair of shorter-stemmed AirPods, and supports previous rumors that the next AirPods would get some styling from the noise-canceling AirPods Pro.
Not only that, but the versions of the new AirPods were posted by GizmoChina, and the website claims that the images of suppliers came from the rumored earbuds.
These versions look a lot like the photos that LeaksApplePro posted, as well as previous images leaked by 52Audio at the end of February.
Based on the images, it does not look like the AirPods 3 will come with silicone earbuds like the AirPods Pro, although there are rumors that they will have replaceable earbuds with a description. How this will connect to the new ‘Pods’ remains a mystery.
When will the AirPods 3 be launched?
With almost two years to go since the last version of Apple’s true wireless earbuds, the AirPods (2019), there has of course been noise from another updated model coming our way.
While there were rumors that the Apple AirPods 3 would crash into the market was out by 2020, they never materialized – and now everything points to a 2021 release date.
They may also start soon. Apple’s first big event of the year could take place on March 23, as suggested by the prominent yummy DuanRui who said so much in a tweet. Interestingly, this coincides with the unveiling of the OnePlus 9 which is also scheduled for March 23rd.
Another Apple tipster, Jon Prosser, added fuel to the speculation in a tweet containing only the number 23. Prosser added in a follow-up tweet that “AirTags, iPad Pro, AirPods, Apple TV” are all “ready-made products”.
Of course, the next AirPods could be a sequel to the AirPods Pro, rather than an upgraded version of Apple’s non-ANC earbuds.
A report by Bloomberg among others claims that the AirPods Pro 2 will be launched this year, and that it may be subject to a fairly dramatic design solution, to get rid of the outstanding earbuds that the original AirPods so immediately make recognizable.
Since then, Japanese blog MacOtakara, which is often right in its predictions from Apple, claims that the AirPods Pro 2 will arrive with the iPhone SE 3 in April 2021, making an announcement of March 23 even more credible.
Regardless of the form that the next AirPods take, we will keep an eye out for further leaks in the run up to March 23rd.