Cupertino giant Apple is all set to host a virtual event on Monday, October 18 at 10 AM Pacific Time, where it is likely to showcase the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros featuring a new version of the M1 SoC, mini-LED displays and much more.
Alongside this however, it seems that Apple will also launch an incremental update for one of its best-selling accessories, the AirPods, which debuted back in 2016.
This information comes to us via analyst Dan Ives, who, in an invester note with Wedbush (via MacRumors) mentions that the third-generation of Apple’s AirPods will likely be announced during this event.
Is Apple Really Going to Launch the Third Generation AirPods Next Week?
For those who missed the rumours, the new AirPods will most likely feature a design reminiscent of the AirPods Pro, but without ANC or Active Noise Cancellation. Improved sound quality and other updates are also likely to feature on the 3rd gen AirPods.
According to Wedbush’s supply chain checks, the third-generation AirPods have already been manufactured and are all set to launch, increasing the chances of an announcement during next week’s Apple Event.
Gizchina News of the week
To add to this, an account on Weibo going by the user name @PandaIsBald also mentioned that the third-generation AirPods will likely be announced at the event next week, with the same account revealing earlier that the 9th-generation iPad would release during Apple’s September event.
In case you did not know, if this news is indeed true, this would mark the first update to the AirPods ever since the launch of the 2nd-gen AirPods back in March of 2019. The AirPods retail for $159 and $199, depending on the type of the charging case.
What Else Has the Company Done Recently?
Apple added revisions to its Find My Feature when it announced the AirTags, mentioning that the feature would be able to find more than just the user’s iPhone.
This exact feature was promised for the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max with iOS 15, and, despite a minor delay, this feature has finally been rolled out to users, as spotted by SlashGear.
For those curious, this feature is already present for the AirPods via the old Find My app, but, there were limitations to this method. It is currently usable with just Bluetooth range, which is useful in the general area where the AirPods are present.
This new update is also refreshing the Find My app interface for the search functionality. The UI is now similar to the AirTags Find Nearby screen, without directions of course, since the AirPods lack the U1 Ultra-Wideband chip.
