What you need to know
- There are fresh reports suggesting that Apple is working on a new version of its AirPods.
- A DigiTimes report claims Taiwan manufacturer USI will obtain orders for "the upcoming AirPods Pro".
- Previous reports have alluded to AirPods Pro 'Lite'.
There are fresh reports suggesting that Apple is working on a new version of its AirPods Pro, however, there's some confusion about what exactly that could mean.
As reported by MacRumors, a recent DigiTimes report states:
USI likely to enter supply chain of AirPods Pro, sources say Taiwan-based Universal Scientific Industrial (USI), a unit of ASE Technology, is likely to obtain system-in-package (SiP) orders for the upcoming AirPods Pro, according to industry sources.
Previously, a report from DigiTimes suggested that Apple was working on AirPods Pro 'Lite', a designation that has been met with some skepticism.
This “AirPods Pro Lite” rumor is odd. A simple passing mention in a Digitimes story gaining traction. AirPods Pro Lite = regular AirPods of course. Next rumor: iPhone 12 Pro Lite.This “AirPods Pro Lite” rumor is odd. A simple passing mention in a Digitimes story gaining traction. AirPods Pro Lite = regular AirPods of course. Next rumor: iPhone 12 Pro Lite.— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) February 12, 2020February 12, 2020
That report stated:
Apple, maintaining partnerships with supply chains in both Taiwan and China, may have its Taiwanese partners handle more production of new-generation iPad, Apple Watch, AirPod Pro Lite and iMac devices to be released later.
A new set of AirPods Pro could perhaps mean an entry-level, dumbed-down version of the AirPods Pro, perhaps without Active Noise Cancelation. It could also, however, be a misnomer, and might actually refer to Apple's third-generation AirPods, as Mark Gurman suggested above.
Apple announced its second-gen AirPods on March 20, 2019, so they are nearly a year old. "AirPods Pro Lite" could end up being third-gen AirPods (no Pro in name) with same in-ear design and sound quality as the AirPods Pro, but no noise cancellation. Just spitballing… https://t.co/NRo2OkPKIoApple announced its second-gen AirPods on March 20, 2019, so they are nearly a year old. "AirPods Pro Lite" could end up being third-gen AirPods (no Pro in name) with same in-ear design and sound quality as the AirPods Pro, but no noise cancellation. Just spitballing… https://t.co/NRo2OkPKIo— Joe Rossignol (@rsgnl) February 20, 2020February 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/reneritchie/status/1230520996035207168
Just a couple of days ago, it was suggested that Apple's 'AirPods Pro Lite' release had been delayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Previously, they had been touted for a release in Q2 of 2020:
Production of the AirPods Pro Lite, an entry-level version of Apple's AirPods Pro series, is unlikely to kick off in the second quarter as originally planned, according to industry sources.
