New AirPods to begin production in just a couple of weeks, says Nikkei

A report says Apple has new AirPods and MacBook Pro models on the way.

What you need to know

• Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch brand new AirPods.
• A new report says that production will begin on new AirPods next month.
• It could indicate Apple's third-generation AirPods are just weeks away.

A new report says that Apple's next generation of AirPods, set to replace Apple's AirPods 2, could enter production in just a few days, suggesting a launch may be imminent.

From Nikkei Asia:

In addition to shuffling its iPhone lineup, Apple has also been preparing updated versions of other products for release in the second half of 2021 in hopes of tapping an expected economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. These include MacBook Pros and a new version of AirPods, the company's popular wireless earbuds, which will start production next month.

The news reiterates reports that Apple is preparing a new Mini LED MacBook Pro (2021) as well as a new set of AirPods. Given rumors, it's likely this refers to the third generation of Apple's regular AirPods rather than a new version of the AirPods Pro, which reports indicate are due to be released next year.

Apple's aforementioned MacBook Pro models will reportedly feature mini-LED displays, as well as a new generation of Apple silicon featuring 10-cores, eight high-performance chips, two high-efficiency chips, up to 64GB (32GB according to some reports) of RAM, and up to 32 graphics cores.

Multiple reports previously had suggested we were getting new AirPods earlier this year, but that never materialized. Apple's AirPods 3 are expected to include an updated design that will make them look more like Apple's AirPods Pro without active noise cancellation. We're not expecting any new Apple products before the iPhone 13 announcement, which is currently pegged for September. As Apple's AirPods are primarily an iPhone accessory, an announcement at an iPhone event definitely isn't out of the question.

If you don't want to wait for new AirPods, there are plenty of discounts to be had amongst the best AirPods deals currently available.