14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is believed to be working on a cheaper version of the AirPods, with one analyst claiming that the launch could happen at some point in the coming years.
Currently referred to as AirPods Lite, the new model is likely to land in 2024, especially as the company is allegedly expecting lower sales in 2023.
This is because the demand for the AirPods would slow down this year, so the yearly sales will go down from 73 million units in 2022 to 63 million units in 2023.
This is the reason the iPhone maker wants to reignite the interest in the AirPods with a Lite version, which is expected to come with a lower price tag. The main goal of the new AirPods would be to make Apple more competitive in the budget earbuds market, especially as more and more companies are launching similar products but at a lower price.
At this point, the cheapest AirPods you can get are the second-generation model, which is available right now at the Apple Store with a $129 price tag. The AirPods 3, which launched back in 2021, cost $169, so it’s safe to assume that Apple will either give up on the previous-generation model and launch the Lite with a $129 tag or keep all versions on the market and make the Lite even more affordable.
Needless to say, Apple has so far remained tight-lipped on such a product, especially because the work doesn’t seem to be finished yet.
Apple wants the AirPods to remain the number one selling product in the earbuds category, so by launching a cheaper version, the company hopes its leading position would be secured in the long term. For now, however, you’d better not hold your breath for the new AirPods, so take everything with a grain of salt.