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New AirPods teased for 2024, to little surprise

By Phil Nickinson October 25, 2023

Apple AirPods Pro 2 in their USB-C and MagSafe case. — Zeke Jones / Digital Trends

It’s been a little while since we’ve seen a proper refresh of Apple’s AirPods line. And given that we’re in the back quarter of 2023 it should come as no surprise that word is starting to trickle out about new products potentially coming in 2024. Those words come by way of Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who cites unnamed sources detailing changes ahead in the new year.

On tap include:

New AirPods Max, which haven’t been touched since they were released in December 2020.
New entry-level AirPods. Apple currently still sells the second-generation (2019) AirPods alongside a redesigned third-generation (2021) model, and it’s unclear what a new low-end would mean. But Gurman makes it sound like Apple will keep two options, with the (new) midrange including active noise cancellation, and an updated case with speakers for Find My alerts.
The AirPods Pro, which are currently in their second (and a half) iteration (and a year old) and still retail at $250, won’t see another refresh until 2025.
It’s pretty safe to say that anything new will come with USB-C instead of Lightning connectors.

New designs and processors are also to be expected. And figure Apple will tout improved performance and audio quality. What you really should be on the lookout for is any sort of new health-related features. It’ll also be interesting to see how any refreshed AirPods fit into Apple’s Vision Pro strategy as the VR/AR headset finally starts to get into consumers’ hands and onto their faces in 2024 and beyond. As it currently stands, only the second-generation AirPods Pro have been mentioned in the same sentence as Vision Pro, with both devices having the H2 chip on board. Whether AirPods Max see support for Vision Pro remains to be seen, though you have to wonder if Apple intends anyone to have that much hardware on their head.

In any case, new AirPods are coming next year. Stay tuned.

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Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…

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Apple has upgraded the AirPods Pro with lossless audio, sort of

Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C.

Amid the slew of new Apple products launched today, only the tiniest mention was made of the fact that Apple has also given the AirPods Pro Gen 2 wireless earbuds a not-so-minor refresh. Along with the expected addition of USB-C, making the AirPods Pro the first Apple headphones to ditch the Lightning connector, Apple has also given the iconic white noise-canceling earbuds the ability to do lossless audio wirelessly -- something that has never been seen on the AirPods family before, and is even a rarity among non-Apple wireless audio devices.

There is, however, a catch. The "groundbreaking wireless audio protocol" that allows for lossless audio at 20-bit/48 kHz (a better-than-CD-quality resolution) is powered by the AirPods Pro's H2 chip, but for now, it only works when paired with the upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset. At the moment, Qualcomm's aptX Lossless Bluetooth codec (when used with compatible wireless headphones and smartphones) is the only technology that supports lossless audio wirelessly, and even that technology is limited to 16-bit/48kHz.

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Second-generation AirPods Pro have USB-C now, too

Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C.

In one of the least-kept surprises of today's iPhone 15 event, Apple announced that the second-generation AirPods Pro are switching to USB-C for their charging case.

That's a big deal because they'll now use the same charger as the iPad and MacBook — and also because they can use any other USB-C cable that you've got laying around. And because we're not talking about a device with a huge battery capacity, you don't need to worry so much about whether you have the right USB-C cable. Things should charge just fine, and fast enough, given that the battery case only sports a 523 mAh battery.

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This accessory turned my AirPods into a giant mech head

CASETiFY Evangelion Type-01 AirPods Pro 2 case front side view.

You’ve probably heard of a tech accessory brand called Casetify by now. It’s one of the higher-quality brands of tech accessories out there, and it’s particularly known for having a ton of customizable products, as well as many unique collaborations with artists and well-established brands — including Disney, Star Wars, Peanuts, and more.

The Evangelion x Casetify is one of the latest collaborations that the company has launched, and it should appeal to anyone who is a fan of the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime and manga series. There was even an “Impact!” launch event in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, where a 4-meter tall, 7-meter wide EVA–01 bust was put on display, with the mecha holding a Casetify Impact case that features an iconic NERV design.