Apple Rumored To Release Airpods Pro Type C Variant

It’s rumored going to be released alongside the iPhone 15

There is a rumor that Apple plans to release a second-generation AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case later this year.

This is according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a tweet he posted on March 24, 2023. Kuo has positioned himself as a reliable Apple analyst based on the MacRumors website.

Mass shipments of the new AirPods Pro are expected to begin in the second to third quarter.

The current version of the AirPods Pro launched in September 2022. It originally comes with a Lightning charging case. While the updated version will reportedly feature a USB-C charging case, it is unclear if there will be any other hardware changes.

Kuo believes that recent references to new AirPods discovered in the iOS 16.4 Release Candidate are related to the USB-C version of the AirPods Pro. Before, Apple introduced a mid-cycle update for the AirPods Pro by offering a MagSafe-compatible charging case, but if the USB-C case will be sold as a standalone accessory is unclear.

The current AirPods Pro charging case includes several features. It has a built-in speaker, a lanyard attachment opening, U1 chip support for Find My app, and compatibility with the Apple Watch charger. With all four models of the upcoming iPhone 15 rumored to be equipped with a USB-C port, it would make sense for the AirPods Pro charging case to switch to USB-C.

Apple has already transitioned the Apple TV’s Siri Remote from Lightning to USB-C. Rumors of other accessories like the MagSafe Battery Pack following suit in the future.

Kuo also mentioned that there needs to be plans to release USB-C charging cases for the second-generation or third-generation AirPods. This suggests that standard AirPods may only have a USB-C charging case once a fourth-generation model is released. Apple introduced the third-generation AirPods in October 2021.

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