Apple will launch not one, but two AirPods 4 audio wearables in September, Mark Gurman revealed in his weekly Light Bloomberg newsletter. Both will be in-ear TWS earphones in a case with a USB-C port, a first for the non-Pro series.
One version will be an affordable option with basic features, while the other will bring active noise cancellation and could also offer wireless charging.
The standard AirPods 4 are expected to replace the AirPods 2 in Apple’s lineup, while the ANC-equipped AirPods will be a newer variant of the AirPods 3. Apple is preparing both models with “design changes” that will help distinguish the two models, but we don’t know what those differences might be.
We’re also expecting a software update for the AirPods Pro 2, currently Apple’s most expensive and premium TWS earbuds. They may gain a “headphone mode” via an iOS 18 update that could combine Conversation Boost with Live Listen, but we’re yet to know how exactly that will work.