Cheaper AirPods Pro Lite expected to arrive in early 2021 (report)

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Apple AirPods Pro Lite to launch soon, according to new rumors

Apple Air Pod Pro Lite
(Image credit: Apple)

Rumors have been swirling for most of the year in regards to Apple releasing a more affordable "lite" version of the highly successful AirPods Pro without noise cancelation. 

The latest rumor comes from The Elec citing a South Korean supplier that is currently developing a system-in-package (SiP) with Airpods’ H1 chips for the new AirPods Pro Lite to be released in the first half of 2021. Once the supplier completes Apple's quality review, the chips for the new AirPod Pro Lite will go into mass production. 

Individuals familiar with the matter expressed that the Lite version will be priced 20% cheaper than the normal Air Pods Pro, which has noise-canceling tech.

Apple was initially said to be releasing the AirPods Pro Lite alongside the Pro but chose not to launch them since sales of the pricier model far exceeded expectations. Apple delayed the release until the first half of 2021 because it didn't want to affect sales of the Pro model by offering a cheaper version at the time. 

According to information from Counter Point Research, sales of wireless earphones are up by 24% this year in comparison to the previous year with AirPods making up 29% of total overall wireless earphone sales. 

I guess we will find out what features they come with soon enough and also how important noise canceling is to consumers and whether they're inclined to pay extra for it. 

Mark Anthony Ramirez
Mark Anthony Ramirez

Mark has spent 20 years headlining comedy shows around the country and made appearances on ABC, MTV, Comedy Central, Howard Stern, Food Network, and Sirius XM Radio. He has written about every topic imaginable, from dating, family, politics, social issues, and tech. He wrote his first tech articles for the now-defunct Dads On Tech 10 years ago, and his passion for combining humor and tech has grown under the tutelage of the Laptop Mag team. His penchant for tearing things down and rebuilding them did not make Mark popular at home, however, when he got his hands on the legendary Commodore 64, his passion for all things tech deepened. These days, when he is not filming, editing footage, tinkering with cameras and laptops, or on stage, he can be found at his desk snacking, writing about everything tech, new jokes, or scripts he dreams of filming.