AirPods 3 Mass Production Said to Kick Off in August

Mass production of the third-generation AirPods will kick off in August, according to a new report from Nikkei Asia. They will reportedly join a number of other products such as the iPhone 13 lineup and redesigned MacBook Pro models as launches coming before the end of the year.

airpods 3 gizmochina Feature tealRenderings of rumored third-generation AirPods design

Rumored launch dates for the third-generation AirPods have varied significantly over the past year, with some having pointed to a launch in the first half of 2021 that obviously failed to come to fruition while others indicated that a second-half launch was more likely.

With mass production kicking off next month, a launch could come as soon as September alongside the new iPhones, although Apple could certainly still wait to launch them alongside some other products later in the year.

The third-generation AirPods are rumored to adopt a similar design to the current AirPods Pro, with shorter stems and silicone ear tips for a customizable fit. They would, however, lack some of the advanced features of the AirPods Pro such as Active Noise Cancellation.

The AirPods Pro are also rumored to be seeing an update with the removal of the stems entirely, which could result in a design similar to that of the recently launched Beats Studio Buds. The second-generation AirPods Pro debut isn't rumored to be happening until the first half of 2022, however.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
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Top Rated Comments

TopToffee Avatar
59 months ago
Please, please PLEASE don't put rubber tips on the new AirPods.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PowerMacBook Avatar
59 months ago

I loved my second gen Airpods, and I love my Airpod Pros even more. I just hope they find a way to increase battery life, even if it's just by a couple hours.
for the ultimate mono-experience, simply have one in the box and swap from time to time...?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Clark Avatar
59 months ago
I loved my second gen Airpods, and I love my Airpod Pros even more. I just hope they find a way to increase battery life, even if it's just by a couple hours.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
59 months ago
There’s hope! Expecting to be release in the Fall.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hcherry Avatar
59 months ago
My 2nd-gen AirPods are getting less reliable (mics have basically gone out; and my devices don’t connect to them as quickly as they used to) so I’m likely getting a new set.

Really hoping there’s an option without the silicone/plug tips. I really like the way the original AirPods feel — I can wear them all day and night without any discomfort.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anshuvorty Avatar
59 months ago
Yeah, I need a new pair. My Day 1 AirPods are basically almost unusable right now. They have lasted 5 years, so a good run!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)