AirPods 4 and AirPods Max With USB-C Still Expected Later This Year

Apple still plans to release multiple new AirPods models later this year, according to the latest information shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

airpods 3 orange
In an October 2023 edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple planned to release two fourth-generation AirPods models and updated AirPods Max in "late 2024." On Sunday, he confirmed that this plan is "still underway."

Gurman expects the entry-level fourth-generation AirPods to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. He also expects higher-end fourth-generation AirPods with active noise cancellation and a speaker in the charging case that can play a sound for Find My location tracking.

Apple plans to discontinue the second-generation and third-generation AirPods after launching the two fourth-generation models, he said.

The updated AirPods Max will feature a USB-C port instead of Lightning for charging and wired audio playback, but no other major changes, according to Gurman. He said the over-ear headphones might also be available in new colors. The current color options include Green, Pink, Silver, Sky Blue, and Space Gray.

Gurman expects new AirPods Pro to launch in 2025 with design changes and an "updated chip," which may refer to an H3 chip for improved sound quality.

Apple unveiled the third-generation AirPods during its October 2021 event, while the AirPods Max were announced in a December 2020 press release.

Related Roundups: AirPods 3, AirPods Max
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Launch Is Just One Month Out – Here's Everything We Know

Saturday August 10, 2024 5:00 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series in the fall, and a possible September 10 announcement date has been floated this year, which means we are just one month away from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design...
macbook pro bb cyber

Apple's M3 MacBook Pro Gets Up to $1,000 Off In Major New Sales, Starting at $1,299 [Updated]

Sunday August 11, 2024 1:54 pm PDT by
Apple's M3 MacBook Pro is seeing multiple high value discounts on Best Buy and Amazon today, with up to $1,000 off select models. This includes a new all-time low price on the entry-level M3 512GB 14-inch MacBook Pro at $1,299.00, down from $1,599.00, and a massive $1,000 discount on the high-end 16-inch model exclusively for Best Buy members. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best...
iPhone 16 Pro Right Side Feature

The iPhone 16 is Getting a New Button: Here's What It Can Do

Tuesday August 13, 2024 4:01 pm PDT by
Multiple rumors have suggested that the iPhone 16 models are going to have an all-new button that's designed to make it easier to capture photos when the devices are held in landscape mode. Apple calls the button the Capture Button internally, and it is going to be one of the most advanced buttons that's been introduced to date with support for multiple gestures and the ability to respond to ...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18.1 Beta 2 and iOS 18 Beta 6

Monday August 12, 2024 2:32 pm PDT by
Apple is beta testing iOS 18 and the first update to iOS 18 concurrently, and we got the second betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 today alongside the sixth betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia 15. Many of the changes in iOS 18.1 are focused on bringing the .1 betas in line with the standard betas, which recently received updates to Photos and Safari, while...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Thursday August 8, 2024 4:40 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different – already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2

Next Year's Slim iPhone 17 Could Be an 'iPhone Air'

Monday August 12, 2024 8:43 am PDT by
Apple's rumored iPhone 17 "Slim" could be positioned as an iPhone "Air" to boost sales, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained how the "fourth" model in the iPhone lineup since 2020 (the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone 15 Plus) has largely been a commercial failure. In the case of the Plus model,...

Top Rated Comments

mrhansolo Avatar
25 weeks ago
I don't understand why the Max's would only get a port update. It's the premiere product of the AirPod line and with the Pros being updated with a new chip and base airpods rumored to receive both design and chip updates, it makes no sense why Apple wouldn't do more to upgrade the internals on the Max's. I'm considering some over-the-ear headphones for home use and the Max is at the top of my list due to the integration with all other Apple products. However, if the next generation keeps the same internals (which at that point will be close to 5-years old) then it would be a definite no go for me.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sigmasirrus Avatar
25 weeks ago
Come on, AirPods Max needs lossless audio. It should have had it on day one.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
andrewxgx Avatar
25 weeks ago
do they still plan to upsell AirPods Pro by making regular AirPods fall out of your ears?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nimrad Avatar
25 weeks ago
Hope they do an updated AirPods Max, not just the charge port. I absolutely love them and use them all the time. I don't personally mind the missing support for lossless as I think that's overrated, but it is in the price range that it should support it. What I really want is just an overall upgrade to get up to speed with the likes of Sony, Bose etc. Oh, and no product should release without proper AirTag-functionality these days. My AirPods Max stayed lost for 3 weeks at a hotel because it didn't have proper tracking and they didn't find it.
2024 seems to be the year I will retire my lightning cable. RIP, you were amazing, but I welcome USB-C gladly.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sarcastro Avatar
25 weeks ago
If the AirPods Max 2 come with adaptive transparency mode and native support for lossless audio, I'll happily replace my existing set of APMs. They'll be nearly four years old at that point, and the money would be worth it. If not, I'll just hold out another four years.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macmac30 Avatar
25 weeks ago

Where do the pros go from here? The latest ones I have sound exactly the same as the first gen ones I had. ‘Better sound and better noice cancelling’ isn’t apparent at all. Yes there are new features though.

As for the Max, they will have to change the colours and/or design or how will people know you’re wearing the latest? Surely that’s all it’s about.
I had AP1 and currently use AP2. The AP2 noise cancellation is so good that I stopped bringing my Bose 700 headsets on airplanes. Now if Apple could figure out a way to make these damn AP2‘s connect to my iPhone 15 pro quicker during an incoming phone call as well as connect quicker to my Apple TV, they would be perfect!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)