Apple is reported to be working on a cheaper AirPods model. According to the rumors, it is planned to be named “AirPods Lite.” And it will allow Apple to compete better in the lower-end market of wireless earbuds.
As 9To5Mac reports, analyst Jeff Pu has been told by his industry sources that Apple wants this Lite model to act as an entry-level option for the AirPods. In other words, you can think of it as an iPhone SE equivalent to the earbuds of Apple. And there is a good analysis as to why Apple is considering this.
Apple AirPods Lite Will Respond to Low 3rd Gen AirPods Demands
Apple is planning on the AirPods Lite to respond to the low demand for the 3rd Generation of AirPods. This year, the overall shipments of earbuds are expected to drop by 10 million units. According to the latest reports, the shipments are down to 63 million from 73 million in 2022.
Furthermore, we have to consider the fact that there are no signs of a 4th Generation of AirPods. And we do not expect to see it appearing anytime soon. Even so, Apple clearly wants to push a product that will be desirable to consumers. And it appears to be the Apple AirPods Lite.
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Currently, there are four AirPods models available. The 2nd Gen AirPods come at $129, while the high-end AirPods Pro 2 comes at $249. There is also AirPods Max, which comes at $549. But that is in a different category as it is a pair of headphones.
Considering all that, the AirPods Lite model can debut with a price tag of less than $129. We are hoping that it will come to $99, making it attractive in the entry-level segment and more appealing to budget-conscious consumers.
We do not have concrete information about the features that the Apple AirPods Lite will lack. However, as 9To5Mac points out, the Lite version can simply be a rebadged version of the AirPods 2nd Gen. Nonetheless, we will keep you updated when more information emerges.