The Long Wait for New AirPods: Kuo Predicts No Major Updates Until 2026 Alright, let's talk AirPods. Apple's little white earbuds have become absolutely ubiquitous, haven't they? You see them everywhere. They're a massive business for Apple, raking in billions – over $18 billion in sales last year alone . So, you'd think Apple would be constantly churning out shiny new versions, right? Well, according to the ever-watchful eye of Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, that's simply not the case. Get ready for a bit of a wait. Kuo, who has a pretty solid track record when it comes to peering into Apple's supply chain crystal ball, recently dropped a prediction that might temper expectations for anyone hoping for a big AirPods refresh anytime soon. His forecast? No major hardware updates are expected for the standard AirPods lineup throughout 2025 . Zip. Nada. Holding Out for the Pro? So, when can we expect something significant? Kuo points to 2026. Specifically, he anticipates the next major leap will come with the AirPods Pro 3 . That's still a ways off, isn't it? It feels like just yesterday the AirPods Pro 2 came out, even though they've been around for a bit now. Why the hold-up? While Kuo's tweets are often concise, he has previously linked future AirPods updates to the integration of new technologies. One piece of tech he's mentioned is an IR camera . Yes, you read that right – a camera in your earbuds. The exact purpose of this isn't entirely clear yet, but speculation ranges from health monitoring features (like body temperature or heart rate from inside the ear) to perhaps even some form of biometric authentication or enhanced spatial audio tracking. Whatever it is, it sounds complex, and complex tech takes time to develop and mass-produce reliably. Kuo's prediction for the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026 aligns with his earlier forecast that these IR camera-equipped AirPods would enter mass production that same year . It seems Apple isn't just planning minor tweaks; they might be waiting for a genuinely new capability before launching the next Pro generation. What About the Others? Okay, so the standard AirPods and the Pros are on a slower cycle. What about the big siblings, the AirPods Max? Those over-ear headphones are Apple's premium audio offering, carrying a hefty price tag. They first launched back in 2020 . Four years is a long time in tech years, wouldn't you agree? While they did get a minor revision late last year – primarily swapping the Lightning port for USB-C – they are otherwise largely unchanged . Critically, they still run on the older H1 chip, which is frankly a bit surprising given their cost and the fact that even the cheaper AirPods 4 (whenever they arrive) are expected to use newer silicon . It feels a bit like buying a brand-new luxury car only to find it has an engine from a decade ago. For those hoping for a true AirPods Max successor, Kuo's prediction offers a glimmer, but again, it's a distant one. He forecasts a lighter-weight version of the AirPods Max entering mass production in 2027 . Lighter? Thank goodness. The current ones are known for being a bit heavy. But 2027? That's even further out than the AirPods Pro 3. This prediction also represents a delay from Kuo's earlier 2023 expectation that the AirPods Max 2 would arrive in 2025 . Delays happen in product development, of course, but a two-year slip suggests either significant technical hurdles or a reprioritization within Apple. The Waiting Game So, what does this all mean for the average person looking to buy or upgrade their AirPods? It means if you need new earbuds now, you're likely buying the current generation. And honestly, the current AirPods Pro 2 are still excellent earbuds with great noise cancellation and sound quality. They're not suddenly bad because a new version is years away. But if you're someone who always wants the latest and greatest, or if you've been holding out hoping for a revolutionary new feature or a significant price drop on older models when new ones arrive, you'll need to practice patience. A lot of patience. It's a bit of a curious strategy from Apple. The AirPods line is incredibly popular and profitable. You'd think they'd want to keep the momentum going with more frequent, albeit perhaps smaller, updates. But maybe they're shifting to a longer cycle, waiting for genuinely impactful technological advancements before launching new hardware. Or perhaps they feel the current lineup is "good enough" for the vast majority of users for the time being. Kuo's predictions are just that – predictions based on supply chain information. They aren't official Apple announcements, and plans can always change. But given his track record, it's wise to take them seriously. For now, it seems the AirPods story for the next year or two is less about exciting new hardware and more about... well, waiting. The AirPods Pro 3 in 2026 and a lighter AirPods Max in 2027. Mark your calendars, I guess? It's going to be a quiet couple of years on the AirPods hardware front.
