Given that the original design is almost three years old, fans are anticipating that AirPods Pro 2 are on their way soon, especially since the AirPods got a third generation at the end of last year. We’ll take a look at when we can expect an AirPods Pro 2 release date, if they’ll charge via Lightning or USB-C, and what new specs and features they’ll bring below.
AirPods Pro 2 release date rumors
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1. AirPods Pro 2 will enter mass production in Vietnam in 2H22, a successful case of mass production of Apple's major products outside China.https://t.co/siWe9HItrd @WSJ— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 24, 2022
It’s looking like the release date of the AirPods Pro 2 will be sometime toward the end of 2022. That’s according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman backs that claim up.
However, a leaker has claimed to know a specific date for the announcement of the AirPods Pro 2. They claim it’ll be shown alongside the iPhone 14 on September 13. If that’s the case, the headphones may launch alongside the latest iPhone, which is usually in late September or October.
However, Apple hasn’t confirmed that a new generation of the AirPods Pro is in the works, so there’s no guarantee they’re even coming. But, it’s extremely rare for Apple to cancel product lines that, by all accounts, are popular and selling well.
Will second-generation AirPods Pro use Lightning or USB-C?
Apple has slowly been switching its devices from Lightning to USB-C, and the MacBook M1, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and iPad Air all use it now. However, rumors have persisted that the iPhone will eventually make the switch to USB-C as well. So, there’s been some debate about whether the AirPods Pro 2 will be the last in the line to use Lightning or the first to use USB-C. Unfortunately, since the iPhone 14 is all but confirmed to be equipped with Lightning, the second generation of AirPods Pro likely will be as well.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the AirPods Pro 2 will use the Lightning connector. Unfortunately, that could leave buyers in an awkward position if the iPhone switches to USB-C. However, Apple could always rectify this by making a new case. The company already did this when they modified the AirPods Pro case to be MagSafe compatible in October 2021. So, if the AirPods Pro 2 does launch with Lightning, that doesn’t mean it’s stuck with it.
AirPods Pro 2 features and specs
According to leaker LeaksApplePro (via Tom’s Guide), the AirPods Pro 2 will include a few major features that’ll set them apart from the competition (and other AirPods). The most impressive of these (if true) is that a new audio codec will release alongside them that’ll allow for lossless audio streaming. This has been a white whale for Bluetooth headphone manufacturers for years and is one of the reasons some critics and customers criticized the AirPods Max. However, if Apple has pulled it off, then it’s a big deal.
The same leaker also stated that the AirPods Pro 2 would be the first in the product line to feature a stemless design which would put them visually in line with competing products like the Samsung Galaxy Buds and Google Pixel Buds. Presumably, they’ll still use silicone earpieces instead of the smooth plastic that base AirPods do. The leaker also stated that it would feature updated “state of the art” noise-canceling technology.
What will they cost?
The above leaker also had some comments about pricing. According to them, the AirPods Pro 2 could cost $299. That’s $50 more than the first-generation model, which retailed for $249. Depending on the technology added to the new headphones, we could see the claim of a price increase being realistic. Chip shortages and inflation have plagued the industry for the last few years, and Apple might push some of the increased cost of components onto customers.
