According to insiders, the production of the long-awaited AirPods 3, the characteristics of which are still a mystery, should start in late summer 2021. The American giant had technical problems that caused it to deviate partially from the approved schedule. Although optimists are confident that the sale will start in the fall.
Initially, Apple planned to concentrate production in Vietnam, but additional restrictions on movement have not been lifted in the countries of the Asian region. Therefore, the giant from Cupertino is forced to collect TWS ears, new “poppies” and tablets, while only in the Middle Kingdom. At the end of 2021, when AirPods 3 are released, this may change.
By the way: TWS headphones – what is it: 5 secrets of advanced technology
Headphones Apple AirPods 3 – announced release date
For the highly anticipated AirPods 3, the release date is the biggest secret. Since the beginning of 2021, the announcements of the start of sales of the next TWS ears have changed several times. Marketers are confident that the reasons for this are not only technical. The first generation arrived in stores in 2016, the next series in the fall of 2019. In both cases, the manufacturer kept the intrigue and pulled the sales until the last.
The third generation is expected by the end of 2021. So far, the only thing you can be 100% sure of is not a complete set of accessories.
The American giant Apple makes three types of AirPods : the basic True Wireless headphones, the more expensive Pro and Max. The most likely scenario is an updated Pro model arrives in early 2022. At least that’s what Mark Gurman, a freelance analyst at Bloomberg, said in June. His predictions turn out to be correct almost 90% of the time.
Most often, information about the start of sales of a new headset appears in the Chinese press. Nikkei Asia reported that Apple planned to start production in August. Alas, at the end of the summer of 2021, the new AirPods 3 were never presented. The updated model is expected by millions of people on different continents. Many of them are confident that the wireless headset will go on sale at the end of 2021.
AirPods 3 design
The AirPods TWS of the second and first pass looked exactly the same. The manufacturer has successfully completed a five-year period with stable sales and no design changes. Even by Apple standards, this is a record. Therefore, the introduction of innovations is inevitable. The AirPods 3 are meant to be a compromise between the Pro series and the base model. At least this applies to the outer shell.
Mark Gourmet’s reports for Bloomberg show that the top-end AirPods Pro version will get a simpler design. It will be something similar to the Beats Studio Buds loved by many music lovers. Based on such data, the next series should be called AirPods Pro Lite, but the preferences remained with the 3rd generation model.
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AirPods 3rd generation – specifications in detail
Although there was no insight into the launch of the new series at WWDC 2021 on June 7, Apple made it clear that the models currently available will be refined and improved. This also applies to the software part. The new iOS 15, available in open beta, will allow Siri to send notifications directly through the headset. Although this is not the only new product that will improve the Apple AirPods 3 headphones. The tech-savvy user will be interested in the following:
- Compared to the Pro version, the “tail” sticking out of the ear will be minimally shortened.
- Insiders confirm the compatibility of the new series with the Find My application.
- The company has announced its intention to integrate Proximity View into all new models so that users don’t lose their earbuds.
- True Wireless headphones from the third family of AirPods will be improved in terms of fitness tracking. Engineers will add monitoring of blood oxygen levels and a sensor for “reading” the pulse rate.
To the new features of the latest model, we need to add the ability to recognize gestures using AirPods Pro. At the end of 2020, Apple filed a patent for this technology. The project provides for the possibility of scanning with subsequent recognition of the user’s face and gestures. An active user will certainly appreciate this feature.
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Airpods 2 and 3: Difference and Technical Improvements
The first AirPods dictated the fashion for a truly wireless headset. In 2016, Apple created a product with average sound quality, but an incredibly comfortable design for everyday use. Due to the popularity of AirPods 1 and the need for refinement, the second generation quickly emerged. The 2019 models added inductive charging, improved shell and noise cancellation.
The flagship AirPods 3 are intended to be the basic headset for all types of users. The new models will come with a case similar in size to the current AirPods Pro. Water resistance will also remain. Briefly for AirPods 3, an overview of the alleged differences is as follows:
| Availability of silicone ear pads | No |
| Charging station | low and wide – 5 x 3 x 2.1 cm |
| CPU | H2 |
| Wireless Charging (Lightning) | Yes |
| Transparency mode | No |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
Probably, the American manufacturer will abandon ANC, although it integrates a more modern chip responsible for switching between devices. Such improvements are dictated by the need to use fitness monitoring and pulse oximeter. They plan to replace the old noise reduction function with a pressure equalization system. Alternative technology reliably relieves the discomfort associated with wearing headphones for hours on end.
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Price
The new AirPods 3 will be cheaper than their predecessors. A well-known American brand can afford it. In 2017, Apple sold about 15 million devices, in 2018 – this figure reached 35, and in 2019 – exceeded 50 million. Therefore, even without changing anything, the manufacturer will remain in the black. Charging should be improved though. Otherwise, the company will graze the rear, which is unlikely.
The giant sold 100 million wireless earbuds last year, covering 50% of the global market. The positive dynamics of sales opens up good prospects for “experiments”. With the release of the next wireless earbuds, you can play with functionality and price. The 3rd generation AirPods will retail for $ 199 at launch, a compromise between $ 159 for the 2nd generation AirPods and $ 249 for the AirPods Pro.
Differences, features, prospects
For many music lovers, offline work is the most talked about issue. Music enthusiasts expect the model to last longer than the AirPods 2. But alas, the continuous use time may not exceed 7 hours, after which you will have to place the earphone in the charging case. Although the filling rate of the battery will certainly increase and this is good news.
There are many similar headphones on sale with the best features:
- Galaxy Buds Pro ,
- Sony WH-1000X M4,
- Sennheiser Momentum 2.
As well as many cheaper analogs:
- Xiaomi Mi True,
- Huawei FreeBuds 4i.
But music lovers from all over the world do not stop buying AirPods. Because of this recognition, Apple engineers are obliged to work on improving their ear pads and earbuds. How much this will improve the sound is anyone’s guess.
Skeptics assure that despite all the changes and attempts by designers to add new chips for the same accessory price, one should not expect that the latest generation of “pods” will be better than the Pro version that has taken place. The fact that the Series 3 will lose Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Spatial Audio is already thought provoking.
AirPods 3 are wireless earbuds from the Apple brand that have been rumored for a long time. There are many reasons to believe that the premiere will take place alongside the new iPhone 13. The design is more likely to remain unchanged. After all, all previous models are securely held in the ear, besides, they are very lightweight and comfortable. With regard to functionality, not everything is so simple. For AirPods 2 and 3, the difference will be significant, but the sound quality and wearing comfort may remain the same.
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