- Apple working on a new ‘low-cost’ AirPods Lite model
- The new model could be offered to compete with other less expensive non-Apple earbuds
- Reports also show a sign of decreasing demand for Apple’s wearable audio accessories in 2023
Apple could be working on a new AirPods variant, called the AirPods Lite, which could be priced more affordably to compete with other midrange earbuds in various markets. Analyst Jeff Pu suggests that the Airpods Lite price could be lower than USD 129 (around Rs 10,700) for which the AirPods 2nd generation currently retails.
There is also a possibility that the new AirPods Lite could slot in above the ageing AirPods 2nd generation, whose price in turn could go down to USD 99 (around Rs 8,200) if the new affordable AirPods are launched. However, a timeline for launch or details on the technical specifications is still unknown.
AirPods prices in India
Apple’s current lineup of wearable audio includes four AirPods models – AirPods 2nd generation, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 2nd generation and the AirPods Max. The AirPods Pro 2nd generation are the latest addition to the range and were launched at Apple’s September event. The new generation of the AirPods Pro feature noteworthy improvements in areas such as noise cancellation and sound dynamics. They also gets the new U1 chipset for precision finding. The AirPods Pro 2nd generation price in India is Rs 26,900.
The AirPods price in India starts at Rs 14,900 for the AirPods 2nd generation and goes all the way up to Rs 59,900 for the AirPods Max.
Analyst Jeff Pu indicates, based on industry sources, that the demand for Apple’s AirPods across models will see a significant decline in 2023. The analyst forecasts a drop of more than 13 percent in AirPods shipments – from 73 million in 2022 to 63 million in 2023. Pu has also highlighted the soft response for AirPods 3 in the market. Apple is also unlikely to launch any new AirPods model this year.
