New AirPods to begin production in just a couple of weeks, says Nikkei

AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

  • Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch brand new AirPods.
  • A new report says that production will begin on new AirPods next month.
  • It could indicate Apple's third-generation AirPods are just weeks away.

A new report says that Apple's next generation of AirPods, set to replace Apple's AirPods 2, could enter production in just a few days, suggesting a launch may be imminent.

From Nikkei Asia:

In addition to shuffling its iPhone lineup, Apple has also been preparing updated versions of other products for release in the second half of 2021 in hopes of tapping an expected economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. These include MacBook Pros and a new version of AirPods, the company's popular wireless earbuds, which will start production next month.

The news reiterates reports that Apple is preparing a new Mini LED MacBook Pro (2021) as well as a new set of AirPods. Given rumors, it's likely this refers to the third generation of Apple's regular AirPods rather than a new version of the AirPods Pro, which reports indicate are due to be released next year.

Apple's aforementioned MacBook Pro models will reportedly feature mini-LED displays, as well as a new generation of Apple silicon featuring 10-cores, eight high-performance chips, two high-efficiency chips, up to 64GB (32GB according to some reports) of RAM, and up to 32 graphics cores.

Multiple reports previously had suggested we were getting new AirPods earlier this year, but that never materialized. Apple's AirPods 3 are expected to include an updated design that will make them look more like Apple's AirPods Pro without active noise cancellation. We're not expecting any new Apple products before the iPhone 13 announcement, which is currently pegged for September. As Apple's AirPods are primarily an iPhone accessory, an announcement at an iPhone event definitely isn't out of the question.

If you don't want to wait for new AirPods, there are plenty of discounts to be had amongst the best AirPods deals currently available.

Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9