What’s on the Horizon for Apple’s AirPods lineup
Apple is reportedly exploring a fresh wave of wireless audio products, including a new version of the AirPods Pro, a redesigned AirPods 5 in two configurations, and a next-generation H3 chip. The disclosures come from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has repeatedly highlighted Apple’s penchant for iterative hardware updates alongside bold, longer-term projects. While Apple hasn’t confirmed any specifics, the chatter signals a continued push to refine sound quality, health features, and seamless integration with other Apple devices.
AirPods Pro: A “new version” or a sequel?
The central question surrounding the Pro line is how Apple will label and position the next model. Gurman describes it as a “new version” of the high-end in-ear buds, leaving room for either a formal AirPods Pro 4 naming or a refreshed AirPods Pro 3 with meaningful upgrades. This follows AirPods Pro 2’s mid-cycle tweaks—like a USB-C charging case and subtle hardware improvements—without a new moniker, suggesting Apple focuses on substantive improvements rather than branding alone.
Industry watchers have anticipated more significant hardware upgrades next year, including a potential infrared camera for enhanced sensors. While it’s not clear whether such features would appear in the Pro line or a higher-end variant, the move would align with Apple’s broader strategy of embedding health and biometric capabilities into wearable devices.
AirPods 5: Two tiers, two experiences
Gurnan reports that Apple is developing two tiers of AirPods 5. This mirrors recent Apple strategy with other product families, offering a base model and a premium configuration with expanded features. Notably, Gurman does not expect heart rate monitoring to carry over from the AirPods Pro 3 to AirPods 5, signaling a potential feature split where certain health sensors remain exclusive to higher-end models. Still, expect Apple to explore additional health-oriented capabilities, such as temperature sensing, which could broaden the devices’ fitness utility without overburdening the primary consumer segment with unnecessary complexity.
As with other Apple devices, the two-tier approach could help Apple tailor pricing to different markets and user needs—from casual listeners to tech enthusiasts who want deeper integration with the Vision Pro ecosystem and related services.
H3 chip: Faster, smarter, more responsive
One of the most intriguing signals in Gurman’s report is the development of a next-generation H3 chip for wireless audio. The H3 is expected to deliver improved sound quality and lower latency, which would directly impact gaming, video streaming, and real-time audio experiences. Although Gurman doesn’t specify which AirPods models will debut the H3, the timing and positioning imply a central role for the upcoming Pro refresh and potentially the AirPods 5 lineup.
Chips like the H3 would also facilitate tighter integration with Apple’s broader software stack, including Spatial Audio enhancements and features that leverage on-device processing for privacy-conscious analytics. Whether the H3 accompanies every new AirPods generation or is reserved for premium variants remains a key question for analysts and consumers alike.
Cameras and gestures: A future path
Beyond chip upgrades, Gurman and prior analyst notes hint at Apple exploring cameras in AirPods models, with infrared camera tech potentially enabling in-air gestures and deeper linkage to Vision Pro. This concept could unlock new control paradigms and richer health and situational awareness features. While this remains speculative, it illustrates Apple’s broader ambition to turn wearables into more capable, context-aware devices rather than simple audio accessories.
What this means for Apple users
For current AirPods owners and prospective buyers, the news points to a continued push toward higher fidelity sound, smarter sensors, and more flexible product tiers. Users who value health features, seamless ecosystem integration, and low-latency performance may find the next-generation Pro and the AirPods 5 compelling options. As ever, Apple’s strategy will likely balance incremental updates with bold, forward-looking technologies that push the category forward.
