Apple AirPods 3 leaks – price and release date

Apple airpod pro
Everything we know about the Apple AirPods 3 – plus what we’d love to see.
After the massive success of the Apple AirPods 2 and noise-cancelling Apple AirPods Pro, there’s already talk of a rumoured Apple AirPods 3 releasing soon.

Much like its predecessors, the AirPods 3 may introduce some new features, while carrying over signature ones from the AirPods Pro such as adaptive sound, customised fit, and noise cancellation. Should this be the case, the Apple AirPods 3 could wind up becoming another Apple product that has been rumoured for a while: the AirPods Pro Lite. A stripped-down version of the AirPods Pro at a cheaper cost? It’s a strong possibility, but one that remains uncertain, for now.
Nonetheless, if what industry experts and the Twitterverse are reporting pan out, we won’t have to wait long to have the AirPods 3 dangling from our ears.
Here’s the lowdown on the Apple AirPods 3 so far, including the AirPods 3 potential release date, price, specs, features, and more.
Apple AirPods 3 release date
The COVID-19 outbreak really threw a wrench in Apple’s 2020 product lineup schedule. Whether the AirPods 3 is listed on this year’s releases remains unknown, though recent reports suggest it will hit store shelves either in late 2020 or 2021.
One month back, Front Page Tech host and Apple leaker Jon Prosser pointed to a possible May reveal for the new earbuds. Prosser claims that the AirPods were initially meant for a March 2020 Apple event, and will now get announced next month along the long-awaited MacBook Pro 2020.
However, in a research note seen by MacRumors that was issued to investors, well-known Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that there will be no new AirPods release this year. Word is that Apple plans to clear its current stock, which has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s also possible we see the AirPods 3 launch alongside the Apple AirPods Studio, the company’s long-rumoured over-ear headphones that Prosser claims is “Aimed for WWDC.”
Keep in mind that Apple released the AirPods 2 in the spring of 2019, so an imminent reveal for the AirPods 3 doesn’t seem unreasonable. Given that all tech shows have been canceled by the coronavirus outbreak, we expect the AirPods 3 to be announced via press release, much like the recent iPad Pro 2020 and iPhone SE 2020.
Apple AirPods 3 price
Let’s take two things into consideration here: naming convention and specs. Not having “Pro” in its moniker implies the AirPods 3 will be cheaper than the AirPods Pro. Cheaper by how much, though, has yet to be determined. Currently, the AirPods Pro is available for $249 with wireless charging case.
If the AirPods 3 serves as a true sequel to the AirPods 2, then we can assume it will share a similar MSRP too, which falls around the sub-$200 price point: $159 for the basic model and $199 with wireless charging case. Kuo also claims that Apple plans on slashing prices for the current AirPods model later this year.
Pricing could also vary based on what new specs Apple stuffs inside the AirPods 3’s porcelain shell. Whatever route the company goes, the purchase is going to come at a premium.