Apple is gearing up for its biggest AirPods launch ever, with suppliers ready to begin production of the next generation of the popular earbuds, as reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Here are some key details about the upcoming AirPods release:

– Apple plans to produce between 20 million to 25 million units, indicating a significant increase from previous launches.
– Production is scheduled to start in May at supplier factories owned by GoerTek and Luxshare Precision, with a planned release window around September or October (likely tied into iPhone 16).
– The new models, codenamed B768(E) and B768(M) for “entry” and “mid-tier” respectively, will come with a redesign, improved fit, and USB-C charging cases.
– The mid-tier version will include support for active noise cancellation and Find My speakers within the case for easy location if lost.

In addition to the hardware upgrades, there will be software updates for AirPods as part of iOS 18’s final release this fall. These updates may include a hearing aid mode for AirPods Pro and a hearing-test feature. Apple is also rumored to be adding a blood-pressure monitoring feature to the next Apple Watch this fall.

Looking ahead, Apple is expected to release a new version of AirPods Pro as early as 2025. Furthermore, there are reports of Apple developing an AirPods model equipped with cameras for scanning a user’s surroundings in the future.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development in the world of wireless earbuds!