According to a report from Digitimes, Apple is gearing up to release a “lite” version of its AirPods Pro. The company’s truly wireless earphones are highly succesful, for that reason, the company now wants to expand the reach of its earbuds line. Therefore, the company could act in three price segments. The new version will slide between the standard $159 AirPods 2 and the high-end Pro that retail for $249.
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Taiwan’s Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) will likely be chosen as the main supplier of the new AirPods Pro Lite. That’s not a confirmed name, of course. The new hearable will be equipped with a system-in-package (SiP) chip constriction. Taiwan’s Nan Ya PCB and Kinsus Interconnect are among suppliers of SiP substrates for AirPods Pro. It includes peers from the US, Japan, and South Korea. Both Taiwanese suppliers may land more orders after USI becomes a backend partner for AirPods Pro Lite, and even Umicron may also join the supply chain.
The rumors indicate, that the new budget AirPods Pro will arrive around mid-year. However, the company’s plan may change in the coming weeks due to the ongoing Coronavirus Outbreak. In general, Apple’s Pro line of TWS earphones is expected to grow up to 50% of total AirPod sales until the end of 2020.