Apple is reportedly working with supply chain partners in Taiwan on several upcoming products, including something called AirPods Pro Lite, according to DigiTimes. Other products covered in the report include next-gen iPads, Apple Watch Series 6, and iMac models.
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, as the epidemic has raised risks of raw materials supply shortages and shipments disruptions arising from uncertain resumption of normal operations at components suppliers and assembly plants in China, the sources said. — DigiTimes
It’s unclear exactly what DigiTimes is referring to by “AirPod Pro Lite,” as Apple just released the AirPods Pro in October of last year. That followed the launch of second-generation regular AirPods in March 2019, and with only $50 separating the AirPods Pro from the wireless case version of the regular AirPods, we’re not sure how a “Lite” version of the AirPods Pro would fit into Apple’s lineup.
MacDailyNews Take: Take this report of an “AirPod Pro Lite” (it’s AirPods, with an “s,” DigiTimes) with a dump truck full of salt. Apple already sells AirPods Pro Lite. They’re called AirPods.
My guess on what AirPods pro lite might actually be:
The next version of lower cost AirPods.
Potentially without wireless charging, and potentially available without noise cancellation, their reason for being could be that they fit much better than the current lower cost AirPods for a very large chunk of the population.
If that’s true, the “pro” in the rumor is being used to refer to the shape and soft adjustable bumpers, and may not have anything to do with the name under which they’ll be sold
I personally think the size, comfort and increased stability would make them a better selling product than the current NON pros, at that non pro price point
I’ve been feeling Apple should go in that direction for future airpods at the lower price point, and it sounds like they are.
To continue my above post:
My thought is that the AirPods Pro Lite would have the following attributes
The same physical shape as the current AirPods Pro, and the same soft adjustable bumpers.
They’d be priced like current standard AirPods
They’d be missing some of the advanced feature of the Pros like active noise cancellation.
They could replace the current standard AirPods fully, or the current standard AirPods might continue to sell, possibly for a new lower price.
The new AirPods probably wouldn’t be called Pros, but the rumors are calling them that because that’s exactly what they’ll look like and what they’re based on.
I like petelp’s thoughts. I would also like a more advanced AIrPod Pro with enhanced health features. While the watch does a great job with heart rate, my understanding is sensors in the ear canal would more sensitive and accurate. Adding a temperature sensor would a valuable health data point. A sensor to measure brain waves would be wild. It could be used to monitor wakefulness while driving, levels of excitement during the day, and quality of sleep at night. And Apple is the only company I would trust to keep that data private.