There's nothing like a juicy Apple rumor to kick off XNUMX in style, and the tech giant is rumored to be working on a set of low-cost AirPods to compete with cheaper wireless headphones in XNUMX.
The new one comes from analyst Jeff Pu, who claims, in a research note seen by 9to5Mac (opens in a new tab), that Apple is developing an "AirPods Lite" product to sit below its flagship AirPods, AirPods Pro and Apple models. AirPods Max. .
The former have been supplanted by the true wireless earbuds AirPods (XNUMX), AirPods XNUMX, and AirPods Pro XNUMX in recent years, but Apple has yet to release an audio product built to compete with the best budget wireless earbuds on the market.
You don't lie about the costs or the features of the AirPods Lite in your review, though it's safe to accept that these seemingly entry-level AirPods would arrive at a more affordable price than the AirPods XNUMX, if nothing else (they sell for $XNUMX these days). one hundred and sixty nine / € one hundred and seventy nine / two hundred and seventy nine Australian US dollars).
Following the launch of these third-generation headphones in October XNUMX, Apple chose to keep their predecessors, the AirPods (XNUMX), free to purchase at the reduced cost of €XNUMX / €XNUMX. / AU$XNUMX, so we can see the AirPods Lite step up and replace those old headphones at a similar cost.
If they are in fact in development, we're also betting that Apple's budget AirPods will stick with the shorter descendant design of the AirPods XNUMX, which, as noted above, would give the Tim Cook giant a reason to remove the AirPods. (XNUMX) entirely, while omitting expensive high-end quirks like adaptive spatial audio head tracking and MagSafe charging.
The AirPods 4's IPX1 water resistance could also prove to be a savings sacrifice on the AirPods Lite, though we hope to see the latter retain the custom HXNUMX chip that allows seamless iOS pairing across the AirPods lineup.
It's worth noting that gossip about the AirPods Lite earphones first broke out in XNUMX, with some outlets (opens in a new tab) notifying that the coin-shaped batteries in AirPods Pro could be used in future generations of low-cost AirPods (which turned out to be AirPods XNUMX in XNUMX).
Now, though, the AirPods Lite gossip factory seems to be moving again, and we expect to hear more detailed gossip about the headset's price, features, and more general development in the coming months.
Analysis: A cheaper "AirPods Lite" alternative could clearly favor Apple, given the cost of living crisis
The question of why Apple is preparing to break out of its typically high-end product sphere is hard enough to answer right now, though uninspiring AirPods sales projections may play a role in the answer.
Pu's report suggests that year-over-year AirPods sales are expected to fall by XNUMX million in XNUMX due to "weak demand for AirPods XNUMX" and the expectation that Apple will not launch any new premium AirPods this year.
More generally, the demand for low-cost products appears to be on the rise across every category of user in XNUMX. Major streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, and HBO Max, for example, have recently launched ad-supported subscription tiers to offer subscribers greater financial freedom despite the contested nature of these packages.
Apple has always been the sharpest tool in the toolbox when it comes to turning a profit, and regardless of the company's perceived premium reputation, the opportunity to capitalize on users' desire for cheap audio products may Too good to lose.