Apple AirPods "Lite," which sports a cheaper price tag, might see the light of day in 2024.
An analyst belives that the Cupertino giant plans to debut new budget-friendly wireless earbuds next year. Much cheaper than the current standard AirPods 2, which starts at $129.
(Photo : JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Apple wireless AirPods are tested during a media event at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California on September 07, 2016.
So if you find the current AirPods offerings of the iPhone maker you might have to wait several months before a more affordable model debut.
Apple AirPods 'Lite' Might Launch in 2024
As per the latest report by Apple Insider, analyst Jeff Pu says that the Cupertino giant is now working on expanding its AirPods lineup. The iPhone maker is reportedly set to launch a budget-friendly AirPods "Lite" as early as next year, or in 2024, to be more exact.
The online news outlet highlights that the current AirPods lineup does not come cheap compared to rival offerings.
To be precise, the entry-level second-generation AirPods 2 starts at $129, while the newer AirPods 3 sports a more expensive pricing to the tune of $169. Of course, the Pro variant, which features active noise cancellation, is less affordable, starting at nearly $200.
But this time, Pu predicts that Apple is gearing up to release a much cheaper option in the flesh of what he dubs the "AirPods Lite," according to a recent story by Mac Rumors.
He says the renowned tech firm is working on a "lower-priced product." It looks like the Cupertino firm is now developing its own contender under the growing budget earbuds market.
Pu further believes that the demand for the current AirPods offering might decline next year. So it looks like Apple is already working to keep up with this by releasing a more affordable product.
Read Also: Apple AirPods Pro 2 on Amazon is Back to its Black Friday Price Discount
AirPods Lite: What to Expect
Pu only gave scant details about the "AirPods Lite." But the analyst reiterated that it would come with lower pricing than the current earbuds lineup of Apple.
(Photo : Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
An attendee wears an Apple AirPods during a launch event on September 7, 2016 in San Francisco, California. Apple Inc. unveiled the latest iterations of its smart phone, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the Apple Watch Series 2, as well as AirPods, the tech giant's first wireless headphones.
It would reportedly be cheaper than $130 as the current lowest-priced AirPods is around that price.
Beyond that, Pu did not speak about the specs of the budget-friendly AirPods. So it remains to be seen what Apple plans to do with its rumored cheaper wireless earbuds. As such, it is unclear if it holds up with the current budget-friendly earbuds.
However, do take this with a grain of salt. It is worth noting that Apple has yet to officially announce any plans to release cheaper AirPods.
Not to mention that the plans of the tech giant might also change, ditching such lineup expansion.
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