According to the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who write a note to investors today, Apple is working on third-generation AirPods, as their production will start during the first half of 2021.
The new AirPods will adopt the same design as the second-generation AirPods and that their biggest change will be a internal one, featuring the system used in the AirPods Pro and replacing the rigid-flex PCB+SMT:
The third-generation AirPods will go to mass production in the 1H21, and the most significant change of the internal design of this new model is the adoption of SiP to replace the rigid-flex PCB+SMT design of second-generation AirPods. We believe that Apple will pull in this new model because of the declining demand for second-generation AirPods. Luxshare ICT will be the main supplier for this new model. – Kuo states.
Although, Kuo’s prediction is a bit confusing, keeping in mind that the leaker Jon Prosser said recently that the AirPods in cause (third-generation) are ready to launch at anytime, and will most likely be launched by the end of this year.
Kuo also mentions that the market is expecting a pair of “AirPods Pro Lite”, but that will most likely be a new set of Beats headphones instead part of the AirPods lineup.
