Apple is planning to bring various changes to its AirPods lineup next year. The AirPods Max was announced in 2020 and has undergone no design changes. Despite being the most expensive AirPods in the lineup, the list of features has not been expanded. A new report claims that Apple's AirPods and AirPods Max will be released next year with upgraded internals and design. A new version of the AirPods Pro is also in the pipeline, with launch expected in 2025.

Upgraded AirPods and AirPods Max could feature USB-C and improved sound quality, expected to launch in the latter half of 2024

The news was shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, suggesting that the AirPods Max will undergo a refresh next year. The analyst speculates that the wearable will be upgraded with a USB-C port instead of Lightning. The AirPods Max will also feature new color options, which will give it a fresh look and feel. The company may slightly tweak the design of AirPods Max as well. Apple is gradually moving away from Lightning on additional products, including the Apple Pencil. The new port could unlock faster charging and add new features to the table.

Apple introduced a new version of the AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case. The company could bring the new port to its AirPods lineup next year. As for the standard AirPods, Gurman states that the company could change the design of the earbuds for improved comfort. Furthermore, Apple will also add new features to the mix while improving the audio quality.

The company will potentially offer two variants of the fourth-gen AirPods. Both models could house specific features and will be priced differently. We have previously heard that the company plans to launch a budget variant of the AirPods. One of the models may well be a budget variant. However, the affordable AirPods could compromise on some high-end features.

As mentioned earlier, Apple is also looking to upgrade the AirPods Pro with a new design for the earbuds. However, users will have to wait another year as the analyst coins a 2025 release date for the wearable. It will feature a faster chip with upgraded health features that Apple has been working on for a while. We have reported earlier that Apple is working on health features that will transform the AirPods Pro into hearing aids for the user.

The analyst has not shared any potential time frames for the AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. The AirPods and AirPods Max are expected to arrive next year, while the upgraded AirPods Pro are slated to come in 2025. Apple could announce the new AirPods and AirPods Max alongside the iPhone 16 series next year.