Second-generation AirPods Pro are rumored to launch in the first half of 2021

Apple plans to launch second-generation AirPods Pro in the first half of 2021, according to unidentified industry sources cited by a Taiwanese publication DigiTimes in a report focused on the Winbond flash memory vendor.

According to the report:

Winbond is also expected to be a NOR flash vendor for Apple’s next-generation AirPods Pro scheduled for launch later in the first half of this year, the sources said. The Taiwan-based chipmaker will operate its NOR flash production lines at near full capacity utilization during the six-month period.

This follows a report from the Japanese blog Mac Otakara which claimed that the new AirPods Pro would be released in April alongside a third-generation iPhone SE. This report did not offer any details about the new AirPods Pro beyond claiming that the wireless charging case will have slightly changed dimensions from the original.

BloombergMark Gurman previously reported that Apple is aiming to make the AirPods Pro more compact by eliminating the stem that protrudes from the bottom of the earbuds, but it’s unclear whether Apple will pull off this feat. Gurman said Apple tested a design with a rounder shape that filled the ear more, similar to Google’s Pixel Buds or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds. This report also mentioned a release date of 2021.

Introduced in November 2019, the current AirPods Pro feature an in-ear design with three sizes of soft and flexible silicone tips included in the box, along with shorter stems below the ear. AirPods Pro have several improved features over regular AirPods, including active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and water and sweat resistance.

Previous rumors suggested that Apple also plans to update the standard AirPods in the first half of 2021 with a design similar to the AirPods Pro, but without active noise cancellation, allowing for a lower price. The current lineup includes the standard AirPods with a wired charging box for $ 159 or a wireless charging box for $ 199, and the AirPods Pro with a wireless charging box for $ 249.