According to 9to5Mac, Apple is currently selling four different models of AirPods, ranging from the second-generation AirPods to the higher-end AirPods Max. While AirPods have become hugely popular headphones, they don’t come cheap.
According to Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu, Apple is currently developing new “AirPods Lite” to compete with cheaper wireless earphones.
According to Jeff Pu, the demand for AirPods is expected to decline in 2023. Specifically, AirPods shipments are expected to drop from 73 million units in 2022 to 63 million units in 2023. This is partly due to “weak demand for AirPods 3” and the fact that Apple may not release new AirPods this year.
The analyst said in a report that Apple has been developing “AirPods Lite.” It’s unclear exactly what the product is and what it will do, but analysts say it’s a “low-priced product” that could compete with non-Apple earbuds.
With the release of AirPods 3 in 2021, Apple is positioning the price of the previous generation AirPods 2 at $129, and the price of AirPods 3 is $169. Presumably, the “AirPods Lite” will cost less than $129. Another option for Apple is to lower the price of the AirPods 2 even further, possibly down to $99.
