Apple AirPods 3 Release Date, Features: Earbuds Could Be Water-Resistant

Apple’s next AirPods model will feature an enhanced design and most importantly be waterproof, an analyst has claimed.

According to a note from Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives, Apple can be expected to launch a new version of the AirPods -- dubbed AirPods 3 -- towards the end of the year ahead of the holiday season. The so-called AirPods 3 will feature an upgraded design and will be waterproof, allowing it to be used in settings like the gym and more.

This report falls in line with an earlier report from noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who said the Cupertino tech giant is planning to release an update to the existing AirPods models. This model, Kuo said, will have the same form factor as that of the existing AirPods, and will have an added feature that remains unknown at the moment.

Kuo’s earlier prediction seems to coincide with Ives description of the AirPods 3: an AirPods model that has an enhanced, not all-new, design; and a new feature not present in earlier AirPods models: waterproofing. Of course, this feature will raise the device’s price up.

Furthermore, Kuo said this model will be launched between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, which is near Ives’ expected release window.

Another one?

Kuo, however, said Apple is also planning to release another AirPods model that features a totally new design and will be sold at a higher price compared to the ones already available in the market. He also said this model will be launched during the same timeframe: between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.

While some might think that this could be what Ives mentioned, a few things indicate that it could be something different. First, Ives mentioned that the AirPods 3 will have “some design enhancements” only, not a totally new design. Kuo’s prediction, on the other hand, suggests it will have an all-new form factor.

Second, according to an earlier report from DigiTimes, industry sources knowledgeable about the matter said Apple is working on a new AirPods model that has a noise cancelation function. This feature will require Apple to find a way to deal with concerns like shorter battery life, among others. It can also be expected to raise the selling price up.

Stay tuned

Apple hasn’t announced any new AirPods models yet, which means these details aren’t confirmed at the moment. Stay tuned for more updates as they come.