Apple may launch AirPods Lite for $99 later this year: Report

Apple is reportedly working on a new budget friendly pair of wireless earbuds dubbed AirPods Lite, which may be launched sometime later this year.

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The much rumoured AirPods Lite will be cheaper than the current offerings. (Express Photo)

Apple AirPods are one of the most popular wireless earbuds available in the premium segment, but the company is yet to launch a pocket-friendly AirPods variant. But that might soon change as the company is reportedly working on a low-priced wireless earbuds dubbed ‘AirPods Lite’.

According to a recent report by 9to5Mac citing Apple analyst Jeff Pu, Apple will launch AirPods Lite sometime later this year. In a new investor note seen by Pu, the Cupertino-based tech giant will ramp up the production of the much-rumoured AirPods variant later this year.

The report, which mainly focuses on the impact of AirPods’ production on the company’s overall supply chain and partners, claims that the demand for the wireless earbuds will dip around 4 per cent year over year this year, with Apple estimated to sell around 55 million units because of “muted demand for existing models.

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The recently launched AirPods 2 Pro support USB-C charging. (Express Photo)

Even though Pu did not share details about AirPods Lite, known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that the upcoming earbuds could be priced at $99. The news corroborates Mark Gurman’s previous claims that Apple might unveil two different AirPods 4 models somewhere around the launch of the iPhone 16 series. While both variants are expected to come with a refreshed design and USB-C charging support, only the higher variant is touted to offer features like noise cancellation.

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Similar to the existing AirPods lineup, the AirPods Lite will most likely be in-ear headphones with the iconic white colour and stem design. And since it will miss out on features like spatial audio and wireless charging, rumour has it that the AirPods Lite might pack an older chip.

The current AirPods lineup has several products that cater to different budgets. The second generation of AirPods can currently be purchased for Rs 12900, while the third-generation AirPods that were launched in 2021 start from Rs 19,900. However, they are often available at a much lower price on e-commerce platforms.