A new rumor this week claims that the Apple’s “AirPods 3” will be officially launched next Tuesday, May 18th. Apple’s AirPods (3rd generation) are expected to have shorter stems like AirPods Pro, but lack Active Noise Cancellation, due to their less expensive price.
The rumor comes from YouTuber Luke Miani and was first shared with the AppleTrack website. According to Miani’s sources, AirPods 3 are already ready to ship and Apple is expected to announce them via a press release on May 18. He also suggests that Apple could announce a new Apple Music HiFi plan on the same day.
While Miani doesn’t have a track record when it comes to sharing Apple leaks, a report published on May 1 had already suggested that Apple could announce new AirPods “in the coming weeks.” Citing its own sources, Hits Daily Double said that Apple is working on a new high-fidelity audio streaming plan for Apple Music that would be announced along with the third-generation AirPods.
Following this initial report, 9to5Mac was able to find evidence in the iOS 14.6 beta code that corroborates rumors about a HiFi plan for Apple Music with Dolby Audio support.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple Music Hi-Fi plus AirPods 3 would make for a nice mid-May “surprise!”
My only problem with the original AirPods was when the batteries stopped holding a charge after 3-4 years. Since owning my AirPods Pro I’ve had a litany of connection issues on a weekly basis, it’s an unfinished product like many of Apple’s software and hardware releases have been for several years now.
Also, the gen1 and gen2 AirPods are comfortable (at least to my ears) for an entire day, so much so that I’ve forgotten I’m wearing them quite often. Not so with the Pro version. After about10 minutes one side begins to feel tight and uncomfortable. The other side takes a bit longer but by one hour I usually have to take them out despite having fitted the smallest of the little silicone ear tips.