AirPods 3 refresh could finally appear at next week's Apple event

AirPods 3 refresh could finally appear at next week’s Apple event

Apple will finally introduce its third-generation AirPods refresh during next week’s “Unleashed” event, according to one reliable leaker. We’ve been waiting for them to appear for over a year now, and an upgrade is long overdue.

AirPods 3 are expected to look a lot like AirPods Pro, with shorter stems that result in a slightly more compact design. However, they will skip “Pro” features — like active noise cancellation — to remain more affordable.

AirPods 3 on the way next week?

A slew of new Mac models, powered by even faster Apple “M1X” chips, are expected to be the highlight of Monday’s event. But Weibo leaker @PandaIsBald claims AirPods 3 will also be unveiled alongside Apple’s newest notebooks.

The same source accurately reported the release date of the new ninth-generation iPad, but they don’t provide any other details on the AirPods upgrade. Earlier rumors have indicated what we can expect, however.

In addition to a revised design, AirPods 3 could pack improved sound and better battery life. They aren’t expected to sport silicone tips like AirPods Pro, but they could be around the same size, with a similarly-shaped charging case.

AirPods long overdue a refresh

It’s been well over two years since Apple introduced its last AirPods refresh, but we’ve had no reason to believe the company had given up on the wireless buds. They’ve been an overwhelming success since their initial introduction in 2016.

Although demand has fallen recently due to the lack of any hardware improvements, AirPods have always been strong sellers, with Apple unable to keep up with demand at one point.