Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives sees Apple introducing a new AirPods model this coming Monday
The AirPods 3 could resemble the AirPods Pro with its shorter stem
Apple is supposedly planning on keeping the AirPods 2 in the lineup which means that the company has a couple of different pricing and marketing scenarios in mind. It could keep the AirPods 2 priced at $159 (with wired charging case) or $199 (with wireless charging case) and raise the price on the AirPods 3, or price the current model at new lower prices and tag the new AirPods 3 at $159/$199 depending on the charging case.
The high end of the third-generation AirPods is capped at the $249 price of the AirPods Pro because of the lack of noise cancellation in the new non-pro model. A tipster on China’s Weibo social media platform who goes by the handle of @PandaIsBald also has said to expect the new AirPods 3 to be unveiled on Monday. This tipster correctly forecast that Apple would introduce the 9th-generation iPad during last month’s California Streaming event and had that called correctly.
AirPods Pro free service program gets an extended
The affected models experience crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, while exercising, or while talking on the phone. At the same time, Active Noise Cancellation won’t work as expected with a loss of bass sound, or an increase in background sounds (such as street or airplane noise). Apple, or an authorized service provider, said that it would fix the device free of charge for up to two years from the date that the unit was purchased retail.
But Apple has announced that it is extending the free repair program. Those who purchased the AirPods Pro at launch in 2019 will now be covered through 2022. Those who bought the AirPods Pro in 2020 before the revised model was released will be covered by a free repair until 2023. Units brought in for repair will be examined to make sure that they are eligible for the program and if they are, and the unit fails, it will be replaced.
