Kuo: AirPods Pro 2 to enter mass production in 2H22, but not with USB-C

Apple's next set of AirPods Pro is due to begin production shortly in Vietnam, retaining the Lightning port for charging, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

On the back of reports that Apple is hoping to expand its production beyond China, famed Apple insider Kuo took to Twitter to reveal that Apple's next best true wireless earbuds, its AirPods Pro 2, "will enter mass production in Vietnam" in the second half of this year, which could mean as early as July. He says this will mark a "successful case of mass production of Apple's major products outside China."

He went on to say the shift away from China was achievable because of the relatively simple supply chain and Vietnam's "better production environment" versus most countries outside of China.

Kuo says that he predicts the next set of AirPods Pro will retain their Lightning charging port, not USB-C. This comes after the shock revelation that the iPhone 15 may adopt USB-C in 2023, as reported by both Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Kuo has since gone on to state that Lightning accessories like Apple's Magic Mouse and Keyboard and AirPods will also be making the switch to establish uniformity across the charging of Apple devices. It seems, however, that AirPods will have to wait a while longer for the change.

Kuo has previously tipped AirPods Pro 2 for a launch before the end of 2022 and says they will have a new Find My charging case and support for lossless audio on Apple Music.