Over the years, the American tech giant Apple has been known for its expensive products, ranging from its iPhones to AirPods.
Currently, the firm is selling four distinct AirPods models, from the upgraded AirPods Max to the second-generation AirPods; while AirPods have become quite popular earphones, they’re not exactly cheap.
However, an analyst at the Haitong Intl Tech Research, Jeff Pu, has revealed today that the company is now working on new cheap wireless earbuds named AirPods Lite to compete with cheaper wireless earbuds. According to analysts, the demand for AirPods is expected to drop this year, 2023, which might be why Apple is developing cheaper earbuds.
In further detail, industry sources reveal that it is anticipated that shipments of AirPods will fall from 73 million units in 2022 to 63 million in 2023. This would be partly because of the soft AirPods 3 demand and the possibility that Apple won’t introduce new AirPods this year.
AirPods Lite: Apple’s Cheapest Wireless Earbud
In a note obtained by 9to5Mac, the analyst asserts that the tech giant has been developing cheaper wireless earbuds with the name “AirPods Lite.” Although the specifics of this product and its specifications are currently unknown, analyst Jeff Pu sees it as a lower-cost product meant to compete with earphones made by companies other than Apple.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that Apple maintained the previous version AirPods 2, in stock at a lower price of $129 after the debut of AirPods 3 in 2021, whereas AirPods 3 cost $169.
These AirPods Lite will probably be cheaper than $129 in price. Apple might also lower the cost of the second-generation AirPods even further, perhaps to $99, as another possibility.
Last year, Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro was released with several improvements, including improved noise canceling and a redesigned charging case with the U1 chip for Precision Finding. The third generation of Apple’s ordinary AirPods and even the more expensive AirPods Max headphones are not expected to receive an upgrade any time soon.
However, as it stands now, the exact features and specifications of the upcoming Apple’s cheaper wireless earbuds are unknown yet. Still, we hope to get more information in the coming weeks and months. Thus, stay connected with TechGenyz for more updates.
